MOScout Daily Update: GOP Eyes Senate 17 - No COVID Special Needed? - Dempsey Lands Amazon - COVID to Cancel Halloween? - IE PAC for Waller and more....

GOP Eyes Senate 17

One Republican tipster sent in this blurb: An internal poll from senate candidate Mickey Younghanz shows that he is down only 8% points in his race against Sen. Lauren Arthur. The poll was conducted by a national firm with experience in Missouri. They polled 668 likely voters from the district, revealing that Younghanz is doing exceptionally well with non-traditional voters. This is with little spending on name ID.

What It Means

Senate 17 hasn’t been on many (any?) folks’ radar.  But Republicans would LOVE to put Senate 17 in play.  It would force Dems to spend some money in what’s been presumed to be a safe district, and relieve a bit of pressure off two incumbents (Senate 15, and Senate 19). I doubt Dems will bite.

Driving Senate GOP desire to expand the playing field and dissipate Dems’ focus…

·         The expensive media market of Columbia will eat up a lot of resources as Senate Republicans defend Sen. Caleb Rowden.

·         CL PAC, the Conservative Caucus’ main vehicle, was thought to be ready to help Sen. Andrew Koenig in his tough re-election, is running on empty.  Their last report showed less than $3K on-hand. (Today lobbyist Richard McIntosh chipped in $7,500).

·         The Democratic PAC, Protest Missouri Freedom, thought to be targeting legislative races continues to record big checks from organized labor.  And GOPers are bracing themselves for an ad run from the PAC starting next week.

No COVID Special Needed

One building denizen scoffs at the COVID liability issue as a manufactured crisis.  Point to the COVID litigation tracker (see it here), they point out that “there are very few COVID litigation cases in Missouri… and the bulk of the claims are insurance issues relating to small businesses- specifically insurance companies denying ‘business interruption’ coverage.”

Dempsey Signs Up Amazon

In the lobbyists registrations (below), Tom Dempsey signed up Amazon.  That’s a big client for his new firm.

Dempsey had represented the e-tailing giant when he was at Pelopidas.  And hallway types have been watching to see where the various non-Rex Sinquefield clients would end up.

Generally speaking, the assumption is that they will follow whoever was “lead” in representing them at Pelopidas.  Clients have allegiance to the lobbyist they’ve worked with.

Dems Press on Roeber Accusation

Missouri Dems moved to draw Governor Mike Parson into the fury surrounding the allegations against Rick Roeber.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford: “The allegations against Rick Roeber are horrific and over the past day, leaders in both parties have made clear that Mr. Roeber is unfit for office. Yet even as other Republican leaders have spoken out against Mr. Roeber, Governor Mike Parson has been silent. As the leader of the Missouri Republican Party, Governor Parson should immediately denounce Rick Roeber and make clear that Mr. Roeber has no place in Missouri politics….”

eMailbag on Parson Ad

The Parson ad was repackaged from his last campaign, which was smart because it was very well done.  Teresa Parson comes across as so authentic, they just had to change her voiceover from Lt. Gov. to Governor and swap out the footage at the end.

Kids to Krewson: Don’t Cancel Halloween

Today Mayor Lyda Krewson will be “announcing public health guidance regarding Halloween in the midst of COVID-19.”
Press conference scheduled for 11:45AM.

New Committees

Building Jeffco Together was formed.  It’s an independent expenditure PAC to support Ken Waller, the Jefferson County Clerk.  Its treasurer is Anthony Dorsett.

Lobbyists Registrations

Tom Dempsey added Amazon.

Christopher Frantze added GGCC LLC.

Robert Lattin added Bayada Home Health Care.    

$5K+ Contributions

A Stronger Missouri - $750,000 from Missouri Women Vote (Washington DC).

Uniting Missouri PAC - $20,000 from G M Lawrence & Co.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Martin Grain Company Inc.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Baker Implement Company.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Marco Inc.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $7,500 from Husch Blackwell LLP.

CL PAC - $7,500 from Richard McIntosh.

MO Opportunity PAC - $10,000 from Hoberock Family Partnership, LP.

MO Opportunity PAC - $20,000 from Xcaliber International LTD LLC.

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $25,000 from House Democratic Campaign Committee.

House Democratic Campaign Committee - $50,000 from Nicole Galloway For Missouri.

MO PORK-PAC - $25,000 from Smithfield Foods.

Old Drum Conservative PAC - $7,500 from Warrenton Oil Company.

Ozark Gateway Leadership PAC - $10,000 from The 1821 PAC.

Ready by Five STL City - $20,000 from Children's Funding Accelerator (Washington DC).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Sandy Crawford, Steve Kraske, Andy Arnold, Tom Irwin, Jo Doll, Matthew Potter, and Kristy Manning.