Jay Kersting's Blog

The primary is now behind us here in Missouri.  For my readers in Tennessee, good luck with yours tomorrow.  (And look for some comments on that tomorrow as well.)

So, here is what we know and what we will not know yet.

We do know that Congressman Kenny Hulshof will face his old boss, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, to become our next governor.  While I think this race will be HOT, HOT, HOT, I do not think it will have the fireworks that it would have had it Governor Matt Blunt had sought re-election. 

We also know that the Republican seeking to replace Kenny Hulshof as 9th District Congressman is Blaine Luetkemeyer.  The Democrat  on the ballot will be Judy Baker.

In the 4th Congressional District, Ike Skelton's long held seat in Congress will be challenged by Jeff Parnell. 

In other statewide races - -

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder will face Democrat challenger Sam Page in November. 

Brad Lager was unopposed to be the GOP replacement for Sarah Steelman, whose bid for the GOP Gubernatorial nomination failed, and he will now face Clint Zweifel to become out next State Treasurer.

Chris Koster narrowly defeated Margaret Donnelly, a difference of 552 votes, to get the Democrat nomination for Attorney General.  Republican Mike Gibbons will be Koster's challenger this fall to replace Jay Nixon.

Both Democrat Robin Carnahan and Republican Mitch Hubbard faced no competition in the Secretary of State office that Carnahan currently holds.

Which leads to my bigger point as we head to November.  You can't handicap the races based on the numbers that you saw from last night.

For example, as much as I would like to think that he has a good chance to do it, I know that Jeff Parnell has an steep uphill battle if he wants to unseat Ike Skelton.  If everyone who voted in the GOP primary threw their support behind Parnell, he would have enough votes it seems.  EXCEPT that more will come out in November and more will have the choice for Skelton that didn't have that option in the Primary.  Again, I make no secret that I will support Mr. Parnell because of his anti-earmark promise made on this show.  (And he is a FairTaxer.)  But, I know that he will need help to make this happen.

In Hulshof v. Nixon, this will be very interesting because of the national money that will flow into the state.  Both McCain and Obama want Missouri, and Missouri is DEFININTELY in play.   My only prediction is that the Presidential race could determine what happens here.

But NOT necessarily.  This is Missouri.

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So last week John McCain ran an ad that I thought was stupid and incomplete when he tried to compare Barack Obama, the world's biggest celebrity, to Britney Spears and Parisite Hilton. 

This is an reason why we need someone like the late Tim Russert.  Guess who made this comparison first? 

Look at this February 2005 story in the Washington Post.  Specifically, the second paragraph. 

The funny part is how the Post refers to him as down-to-earth.  As my wife would say, Seriously?  It is the Washington Post and all honest people know their leanings.

The other part that I got a BIG belly laugh out of was when he mentioned how his wife keeps him humble by teasing him about his big ears.  Really?  I thought he said before that he was very sensitive to that kind of thing. 

Which is it?  Did he change ANOTHER position?

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I agree.  Change your ad campaign!!  Quickly!!! 

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Have a great Wednesday.