MOScout Weekender: Flynn Endorses Alexander - Biden MO Job Approval 35% - Hallway on US Senate and more...

Flynn for Alexander

In the CD-7 primary, Dr. Sam Alexander unveiled an endorsement from MAGA celeb Michael Flynn.  See the endorsement here.

Flynn briefly served as Donald Trump’s first national security advisor before resigning and pleading guilty to lying to the FBI, a plea he later withdrew before being pardoned by Trump. Whew. 

The point is: Trump folks like him.  And Team Alexander hopes that the transitive power of endorsements helps.  Republicans like Trump. Trump likes Flynn.  Flynn likes Alexander.  So hopefully Republicans will like Alexander.

Remington/MOScout Poll: Statewide Questions

Survey conducted February 2 through February 3, 2022. 1,206 likely 2022 General Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2022 General Election. Margin of Error is +/-2.8% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of Missouri Scout.  See the full results here.

Q1: Do you approve or disapprove of Joe Biden’s job performance as President?  

Approve: 35%

Disapprove: 60% 

Not sure: 5% 

Q2: How closely are you following the congressional redistricting process in Missouri? 

Very closely: 17%

Somewhat closely: 20% 

Not at all: 63%

Q3: Do you think school districts should be allowed to require students to wear masks? 

Yes, they should be allowed to require: 37%

No, they should not be allowed to require: 53% 

Not sure: 10% 

Q4: There is a proposal to amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one. Do you support or oppose this proposal? 

Support: 40% 

Oppose: 43% 

Not sure: 17% 

Q5: There is a proposal to amend the Missouri Constitution to allow any entity licensed by the Missouri Gaming Commission to offer sports betting, subject to a 10 percent tax with half going to pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade education, and half going to highways, roads and bridges. Do you support or oppose this proposal? 

Support: 46% 

Oppose: 37% 

Not sure: 17% 

MOScout’s Hallway Index: US Senate

I asked lobbyists who they think will win the US Senate Republican primary.  Results from two months ago in (parenthesis ).  23 replies…

RESULTS

1. Eric Greitens… 47.8%  (33.3%)

2. Vicky Hartzler… 39.1%  (25%)

3. Billy Long… 4.3%  (0%)

4. Mark McCloskey… 0%  (0%)

5. Dave Schatz… 0%  (12.5%)

6. Eric Schmitt… 8.7%  (25%)

Sample of Comments

·         Greitens, but I can’t help but wonder why the Governor wouldn’t throw his hat in the ring with more than 70% of Missourian’s thinking he is doing a great job at handling Covid. Parson could be state Sen/Lt.Gov/Gov/US Senator all in 7 years. It is the equivalent of political speed dating!

·         Schmitt will be sunk by supporting China and suits against schools. Further credible allegations against Greitens will prevent him from ever getting away from scandal. Both of these will drive away enough voters creating the lane for only female candidate.

·         In a crowded field, Greitens prevails, unless Trump endorses another candidate.

·         I believe the integrity and genuine nature of Vicky will soon appeal to the voters and they will discover that after 18 months, the other 3 formidable candidates have literally nothing to say. I wonder at what point candidates become embarrassed about their message, because a growing number of voters are already there, and embarrassed for them.

·         Trump picks the winner.

·         Eric Schmitt cannot beat Eric Greitens by acting like Eric Greitens and they rest of them are fading into the background.

·         Today I'm predicting Schmitt, but I'm getting closer and closer to predicting Hartzler.

·         I guess my answer is actually "whomever gets the Trump endorsement."

Who Won the Week?

Mike Moon – Nice flex from the senator from Ash Grove to torpedo the governor’s health director with a few hours of filibustering. 

Kellyanne Conway – The former Trump advisor is pulling down $15K a month from Congressman Billy Long’s campaign.  Now can she help him pull down Trump’s endorsement and win the campaign.

Vicky Hartzler – As Greitens and Schmitt start trading attacks, the third-place Hartzler is staying out of the line of fire – for now.

Hospitals – Finally seeing a decline in covid hospitalizations.

Find a downloadable version here.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson announced four judicial appointments…

·         Robert W. Cornejo as Associate Circuit Judge for Division 13 of the 11th Judicial Circuit.  Cornejo currently serves as the Chairman of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.

·         Anthony Horvath, of Linn, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Putnam County in the 3rd Judicial Circuit.

·         The Honorable Chris McDonough, of Weldon Springs, was appointed as Circuit Judge for Division 5 of the 11th Judicial Circuit.

·         Mathew Houston, of Pacific, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Franklin County in the 20th Judicial Circuit.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Allen Andrews, Steve Hobbs, and Teresa Hensley.