MOScout Daily Update: Parson Tests Positive for COVID - What It Means for the Race - More on Senate 19 - Audit of Jackson County and more....

Parsons Test Positive

Governor Mike Parson and his wife, Teresa, announced yesterday that they both tested positive for the coronavirus.  It sent shock waves through the political world.

There are two undeniable ways it impacts the election…

First, it limits Parson campaign activity.

·         Even if the governor has a mild or asymptomatic case of COVID he’s out for two weeks.  “A big advantage that Republican candidates have over Democrats right now is their willingness to continue to do retail politics (events, door knocking, etc.). Locking Parson in the mansion for weeks is going to be a significant advantage for Galloway.”

·         Plus, “his whole team would have to be tested as well – staff, campaign folks, etc…”  It’s a huge campaign distraction.

Second, it takes Parson off message.

·         The campaign’s preferred topic is crime. In recent days they’d rolled out endorsements from the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, and Missouri Sheriffs United.  And they had a “roundtable discussion” planned for today with law enforcement families. The roundtable was obviously cancelled and the whole week’s message has vaporized.

·         Instead the campaign was spending time tsk-tsking the media for connecting dots between the governor’s policies and his illness.  And that’s exactly how it was playing on the internet.  The conservative Drudge Report carries the AP headline “Missouri governor, opponent of masks, has covid.”  Washington Post: “Missouri’s governor has refused to mandate masks. Now he’s tested positive for the coronavirus.”

But

Some think it could help the governor. “[The] flip side is the public could be sympathetic. Some don’t want to support him because he hasn’t been hard enough on covid, but this could generate some sympathy support, and he could do daily updates on status of symptoms that really personalize him. Plus, he’s older with record of health issues so becomes hard to attack him if he’s really sick…”

While others think it’s a non-event. Remember how few undecided voters there were in the last MOScout poll.  Reader: “By now I believe everyone has already made up their minds.”

However if the governor becomes seriously ill, all bets are off.  That’s a wildcard that is impossible to handicap.

The Most Likely Impact

To most Missourians, this will be just one more data point in how the administration has handled the crisis.  A look at today’s Springfield News Leader’s headlines demonstrates this.  It includes the governor’s positive case, but also other COVID news – none of it good….

·         SGF-area hospitals struggle to keep up with COVID patients.  See it here.

·         White House report: Missouri among top 5 states for new COVID-19 cases last week. See it here.

·         Springfield Catholic High switches to virtual, 100+ students in quarantine. See it here.

More on Senate 19

The idea from yesterday’s reader that Rowden doesn’t have the full support of MSCC and his caucus as the Majority Flood Leader is a real head scratcher.  In reality, most Majority Caucus members would like to see all MSCC dollars go to mid-Missouri. Donors and lobbyists all know just how important Rowden is for a functioning Senate. As has always been the case, Rowden will have access to all the resources necessary to win reelection and continue in his role as Senate Majority Leader.

Entrance Temporarily Moved

News Tribune reports that “as renovation work continues at the Missouri Capitol, the main entrance public visitors use will temporarily be moved starting next week. The Missouri Office of Administration's Division of Facilities Management, Design & Construction sent out a notification Monday noting the Capitol's south entrance will close Sept. 28 and reopen around Nov. 30. In the meantime, the public entrance will be on the first floor on the west side of the building — at the top of the stairs overlooking Main Street. Staff may enter the Capitol at the east and west first floor doors….”

Audit Rates Jackson County as “Poor”

Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of Jackson County that highlighted no-bid contracts amid other questionable contracts, including the consulting services contract for former County Executive Mike Sanders.  See it here.

In  total,  the  contracts  discussed  in  the  report's  findings  cost  the  county  approximately  $4  million.

$5K+ Contributions

Democratic Governors Association - Missouri - $1,000,000 from Democratic Governors Association (Washington DC).

A Stronger Missouri - $1,000,000 from Democratic Governors Association – Missouri.

A Stronger Missouri - $365,000 from Keep Government Accountable.

Protect Missouri Freedom - $100,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers' PAC 3450.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $50,000 from American Federation for Children.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $6,000 from Invenergy Transmission LLC.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $8,500 from Patrons of Jeff Porter.

Make Liberty Win-Federal Committee - $42,500 from Make Liberty Win.

Missouri Leadership Forum - $15,000 from Drury Development Corporation.

Missouri Leadership Forum - $15,000 from Sellenriek Construction Inc.

SEIU Missouri State Council PAC - $50,000 from SEIU MO/KS State Council.

Centene Corporation Political Action Committee d/b/a Centene Missouri Federal PAC - $35,000 from Centene Corporation Political Action Committee.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Harry Otto, Kevin Wilson and Terry Witte.