MOScout Daily Update: Soros Hearts Gardner - Trump Approval Among MO GOP Dips - Greitens "Open" to Returning to Office and more...
Finish Line Money
Last-minute money continues to stream into PACs as campaigns hustle in a final effort to push their candidates across the finish line.
A few of the more interesting checks recorded yesterday…
· Billionaire George Soros sent over $100K into the pro-Kim Gardner PAC, Missouri Justice & Public Safety PAC.
· Progressive dark money groups from DC sent $250K to the pro-Medicaid expansion campaign committee.
· Mark Mantovani, running in a four-way Democratic primary for STL County Executive, added $50K into his war-chest.
· $42K more into the pro-David Cole PAC, Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC.
Trump’s MO GOP Support Melts Just a Bit
Recent Remington/MOScout polls have shown Trump support waning among GOP primary voters. It’s still high, but it’s also down about ten points from where it was a few months ago.
· In Senate 29, Trump job approval among GOPers 78% now versus 88% in April.
· In Senate 33, 82% versus 92% in May.
One reader notes this: Interesting how across your GOP Senate primary polls, Trump's disapproval is double what it was and the support for how the state (Parsons) is handling things has dropped dramatically, from both ends. The results of COVID-19's development and the swings back and forth on it from Trump, followed by Parson, are hurting them both. No wonder Galloway is picking up steam…
Senate GOP Caucus Crystal Ball?
One building denizen sees the all-out primary battles potentially having consequences when the Republican Senate Caucus meets after Election Day: Senate politics are looking more and more like a version of 2008 and 2010. Aggressive plays… this has the makings of becoming an Engler-Mayer situation in 2020 or 2022.
And
Will CL PAC reload after the primary? Their 8 Day report shows they spent nearly their entire balance, with a cash on-hand now of $14K. Conservative Caucus member Andrew Koenig has a tough general election ahead. One observer says “literally it will take all of the money they spent and more for him to beat Deb [Lavender].”
More on “Eye Off the Ball?”
Governor Mike Parson’s pivot to violent crime may backfire if Missouri emerges as a national hotspot of the coronavirus…
· 2,084 new COVID cases in Missouri yesterday. See it here.
· White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx says the virus spread is hitting Midewest states like Missouri now. See it here.
And
Readers on “the pivot”…
· Republicans still envision 1950s white flight suburbs. In reality, suburbs are much more racially and socioeconomically diverse. The McCloskeys may be heroes in rural MO, but few people in the burbs feel sorry for those self-important goons….
· Re Parson and violent crime, don't underestimate the fact that "law and order" isn't resonating in the suburbs the way it used to….
Greitens “Open” to Returning to Office
Another TV interview from former governor Eric Greitens. See it here. He pans the job performance of his successor, Mike Parson, and then offer this… “I’m going to continue to find ways to make a difference and would certainly be open to potentially serving again in office here in Missouri.”
Jeff City Protest
A small protest in front of the governor’s mansion drew a vigorous response from police.
· MOTimes’ Kaitlyn Schallhorn captured it on video. See it here.
· ACLU tweeted outrage over the response. See it here.
· One MOScouter: “Rep. Rasheen Aldridge was one of the protestors. This will have consequences during special session next week I think.”
MOScout Pick’em Contest
Last chance for bragging rights. Reader contest… Send me an email (dave@moscout.com) by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT (Friday) with your picks in the following races…
Senate 3: Barrett, Gannon, Scism.
Senate 5: Church, Duncan, Green, Haas, Roberts, Sherod
Senate 25: Bean, Cookson, Justice, Shawan.
Senate 29: Cole, Moon.
Senate 31: Bondon, Brattin, Yarberry
TIE BREAKER: % Voting in favor of Amendment 2 (Medicaid expansion).
Gubby Appt
Press release: Governor Mike Parson appointed Caleb Phillips as the Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney. Mr. Phillips currently serves as a law clerk to Federal Judge Roseann Ketchmark. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
eMailbag on Parson MedEx
I could not disagree more with the comment regarding Parson’s low profile on MedEx. From the polling I have seen, passage of MedEx is on a razor’s edge (barely 51%)… opposing Medicaid Expansion is a conservative cornerstone. Republicans universally oppose expansion of the welfare state and they know that this will only lead to tax increases and/or budget cuts to education (the next biggest pot of money)… The narrower the margin by which MedEx passes (if it does) the more conservative Missourians are going to wonder why state leaders like Parson didn’t do more.
Help Wanted
Missouri Coalition for the Environment seeks Executive Director. “The Executive Director (ED) is a full-time, exempt, permanent position responsible for the overall management of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, a successful, fifty-year old 501(c)3 organization working to advance the right of every person to clean air, clean water, clean energy, and healthy food while striving to mitigate racial and environmental injustice. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors (BOD), the ED coordinates all institutional development and planning processes, with administrative responsibility for programs, activities, and staff. The ED stewards all organizational efforts and resources toward accomplishment of its mission, the health and protection of Missouri’s people and their environment through legal action, education, and advocacy.” See it here.
New Committees
Rural Healthcare PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Michael Wilkes.
Lobbyists Registrations
Lincoln Stoll added Union Electric Co. DBA Amerenue, Ameren Services, Ameren Corp.
Andy Blunt, Ginger Steinmetz and Jay Reichard deleted Professional Certification Coalition.
Ginger Steinmetz deleted Steinmetz Consulting, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Justice & Public Safety PAC - $116,000 from George Soros (New York, NY).
Citizens To Elect Kimberly Gardner - $10,000 from Eddie Randle and Sons.
Missourians for Healthcare - $50,000 from The Fairness Project (Washington DC).
Missourians for Healthcare - $205,000 from North Fund (Washington DC).
No on 2 in August - $7,250 from Pelopidas, LLC.
Mark Mantovani for St Louis - $50,000 from Mark Mantovani.
Page PAC - $20,000 from Centene Management Company.
Six County PAC - $15,000 from Ketchmark & McCreight PC.
Voters for Good Government - $15,000 from Ketchmark & McCreight PC.
Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC - $42,000 from Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund.
Justice for All PAC - $8,000 from North Missouri Leadership PAC.
Freedom of Road Riders, Inc-PAC - $6,931 from Freedom of Road Riders Inc.
Committee to Elect Benny Earl Thomas H-124 - $6,660 from Benny Thomas.
Committee to Elect Scott McAdams - $10,000 from Steve Wyrick Film Productions.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rodney Gray, Liz Henderson, and Samantha Davis.