MOScout Daily Update: Things Get Strange in Senate 33 - McCloskeys as GOP Stars - Starner Returns - MFH Calls for Mask Mandate - Another $500K for MedEx and more...

Senate 33 Gets Strange

A mailer attacking Rep. Karla Eslinger and Van Kelly is being attacked as inappropriate.  See the mailer here.

It shows x-ray images of the two candidates along with some negative attacks.  In Eslinger’s image, the thumb of the skeleton looks to some like a penis (I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think that’s how a penis x-rays, for what it’s worth).

One MOScouter emailed me these outraged statement…

Statement by Representative Karla Eslinger: I am saddened my opponent, Robert Ross, would attempt to diminish my accomplishments and who I am by putting a photo of my face on top of a skeleton that included a depiction of a male appendage.  I am not naive that politics is combat, but that does not excuse an attack this bizarre and inappropriate. I would welcome Representative Ross refocusing his campaign on issues that matter to most voters like jobs, education, and healthcare rather than pornography.

 Statement by Senator Mike Cunningham:  I hadn’t planned on speaking out further in the race to replace me, but the most recent attack by Robert Ross goes well beyond the pale of acceptable campaigning. Karla Eslinger is a strong woman who came from nothing and embodies the American dream. That a candidate would think it is okay to photoshop a male appendage onto a woman who is running for office tells you everything you need to know about how broken our politics is. Robert Ross should apologize for this bizarre, despicable attack.

Money Pours In

It’s a long list in the large contributions today.  Money is pouring in to fund the final push before the primaries.  Some highlights….

·         Another $500K+ to the MedEx campaign.

·         Elaine Gannon put $30K+ into her Senate 3 campaign.

·         CL PAC sent money to the PACs of Josh Barrett (Senate 3) and Rick Brattin (Senate 31).

·         Color of Change PAC makes its Missouri debut.  See the website here.

McCloskeys as GOP Heroes?

The McCloskeys, those gun-waving St. Louis City lawyers, have become a rallying point for the Missouri GOP.  I find the breadth of their embrace fascinating.  It’s not just Governor Mike Parson’s pre-emptive declaration of a pardon, and Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s unorthodox court filing.  They are popping up in television ads and mailers in Republican Senate primaries in rural Missouri.  I asked a few Republican consultants about the phenomenon.  They weren’t entirely in agreement about the McCloskeys’ ascension to Republican martyrdom, but here are some of their thoughts….

·         One said they’d polled the McCloskeys before using them and among their target market (GOP primary voters) their fav/unfav is remarkably high, like net 50+.

·         But there’s some nuance.  Many folks find their lack of gun safety, and inexpert handling of firearms to be worrisome.  Still, the right to bear arms is foundational for Republicans, so folks can overlook that.

·         One called them “clowns,” but even clowns are entitled to their rights.

·         One consultant says that social media explains how rural Missouri knows the McCloskeys and why their image works in messaging.  Conservatives follow conservatives, so immediate geography is not a barrier.

·         Another says their prominence comes from Trump and Fox News.

·         Many rural places don’t experience protests often, and easily stereotype what “protests” means. (It means riots.) That’s in contrast to urban dwellers who are more accustomed to them, may have participated in them (and brought their children along), and are unsettled by the idea of escalating to armed confrontation when you’re just marching by.  In this view it’s actually a cultural difference masquerading as a philosophical difference.

·         Consultants disagreed whether this was their fifteen minutes of fame, or if they’ll continue to get the spotlight.  The reason we’d see them during the general election: Republicans think law and order is the Dems’ vulnerability in the suburbs.  McCloskeys feed the chaos narrative; they are the poster children of besieged mentality.

Starner Returns to Hallways

Kristian Starner will be back in the halls.  She’s the taking over the government relations responsibilities for Cerner in Missouri.  For the last two years, she was covering states in the Western US but now has MO in her portfolio along with 15 other states in the Midwest and Southeast.

Before Cerner, Starner worked for Axiom.  She started her career in the building with Brent Hemphill and Associates.

Ready by 5

Ready by 5 is an effort to pass a half-cent sales tax to fund early childhood education in St. Louis County.  They recently held an online fundraising blitz, beating their goal of $120K.  See it here.

It’s to support the campaign to fund a. They still need to get it on the November ballot, but they seem confident that the St. Louis County Council will approve their resolution.  The deadline is late August to get it passed.

MFH Calls for Mask Mandate

The Missouri Foundation for Health issued a statement calling for a mask mandate in Missouri.

There is one simple step we can take to prevent further sickness, death, and economic destruction from COVID-19, and that is to wear masks… We call on all formal government – including the governor and county officials – to heed the advice of public health experts and require mask wearing in public spaces for all Missourians. Without swift action in this direction, we will fail to take control of this virus and Missourians will continue to suffer.

And

I heard from two folks familiar with the recent outbreak of COVID among House staffers.  It’s being blamed on a baby shower which co-workers attended.  It was indoors.

One of the folks said it could have been avoided if two simple precautions were taken:

·         Don’t go near anyone if you have any symptoms.

·         Don’t hold events inside, whenever possible use the outdoors.

New Committees

ColorOfChange PAC was formed.  It’s a Federal PAC.  Its treasurer is Larhonda Wilson.

Lobbyists Registrations

Kristian Emily Starner added Cerner Corporation.

$5K+ Contributions

Barry County Republican Committee - $10,000 from Sater for Senate.

Sater for Senate - $10,000 from Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC.

Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC - $7,500 from Missouri Cattlemens Association.

Missourians for Healthcare - $350,000 from North Fund.

Missourians for Healthcare - $150,000 from The Fairness Project.

Missourians for Healthcare - $22,924 from American Heart Association.

Missourians for Healthcare - $19,000 from North Fund.

No on 2 in August - $22,954 from Pelopidas, LLC.

St. Louis Rising - $99,583 from Pelopidas, LLC.

Brattin Brigade PAC - $75,000 from CL PAC.

Patriot PAC - $45,000 from CL PAC.

Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Old Drum Conservative PAC.

Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from American Federation For Children.

Citizens For Elaine Gannon - $10,000 from Dennis and Elaine Gannon.

Citizens For Elaine Gannon - $22,000 from Dennis and Elaine Gannon.

Page PAC - $50,000 from Centene Management Company.

Page PAC - $25,000 from ASAPAC MO Federal Committee.

Change STL PAC - $5,200 from Joseph Stieven II.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $25,000 from American Federation for Children.

American Dream PAC - $25,000 from Midwest Cement Company Inc.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Cheyenne International LLC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Spire Missouri Inc.

ColorOfChange PAC - $30,000 from ColorOfChange PAC.

IAFF FIREPAC VIC Missouri - $20,000 from International Association of Fire Fighters Interested in Registration and Education PAC.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $7,207 from Ozarks Medical Center.

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Shields for the City.

STL Justice - $88,000 from Joseph Wingate Folk Society.

UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $15,000 from UAW V-CAP.

ASAPAC MO Federal Committee - $25,000 from American Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee (ASA PAC).

MO Architects PAC - $16,000 from American Institute of Architects of Missouri.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Claire McCaskill, Betsy Ledgerwood, Rep. Wes Rogers, Jean Evans, Kim Tuttle, Jim Lembke, and Kevin Threlkeld.