Missouri Democrats gather in Charlotte hoping to build momentum (STL Post-Dispatch)

[pstokely]

Last edited Mon Sep 3, 2012, 05:06 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/democrats-gather-in-charlotte-hoping-to-build-momentum/article_4911455a-fe5a-56d3-a79d-812a09c90fe6.html

"Democrats are poised to make sure of it this week, using Akin's bombshell comments about "legitimate" rape and pregnancy to press the case that the Republicans have drifted so far right that they're no longer a mainstream party.

"I'd like to have a dollar for every time Todd Akin's name is mentioned at a microphone" during the convention, predicted Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington newsletter. "You'll hear a lot of stuff on cultural issues and women's issues. I expect there to be many references to Todd Akin."

Missouri's battered Democrats might be excused for taking a little too much glee in the Akin controversy. It's the first bit of good political news they've had in a while, with polls showing Obama trailing Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney here, and issues such as health care reform and stimulus spending hurting Democrats down the ballot.

"I hear all the time, 'It's going to be a rough year for Democrats'" in Missouri, Sanders said. "That is the conventional wisdom."

He's hoping the convention will help change that.

"Republicans (in Missouri) tolerate Mitt Romney, but they aren't excited about Mitt Romney," Sanders said. "There's no better time to bring Democrats together."