Despite absence, McCaskill is the talk of the town

[pstokely]

Source: St Louis Post Dispatch

For McCaskill — and for national Democrats who thought she was likely to lose her seat and potentially lose the Senate for the party — the Akin controversy has been a windfall. Polls show it has already boosted McCaskill into the lead of a race in which she previously lagged.

McCaskill said well before the Akin controversy that she would skip this week's convention. Republicans alleged she was running from President Barack Obama's fall in popularity in Missouri — a position that was only bolstered by the senator's recent commercial boasting that she stood up to the president on select issues.

But McCaskill has disputed that she is running from the president, saying she needed to stay in Missouri and campaign, a decision consistent with her absence in past conventions when she was on the ballot.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Mike Sanders suggested Tuesday that this year, that decision has turned out to be quite a sacrifice, given the furor that Akin's comments have whipped up.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/despite-absence-mccaskill-is-the-talk-of-the-town/article_a57141e7-22f4-5e85-a088-52db36555cb8.html

[FarPoint]

1. I'm still uncomfortable with her choice to stay home.

Also disappointed....that said; I don't have all the inner details of her decision.

I will continue to sit back and watch how this rolls out...

[caseymoz]

6. You don't know how unpopular Obama is

. . . in out-state Missouri. I understand where coming from, but she really has to walk a tightrope.

Akin built his seemingly insurmountable lead by tying her to Obama. And it looked hopeless. If she ties herself to him now, she will sink.

Where Missouri goes depends on if St. Louis and Kansas City give enough votes to counter he Republican rural counties. Her best hope is to let Obama bring those city voters to the polls and ride his coattails, while not inflaming a higher turnout in the rest of Missouri.

Akin looks hopeless, but remember how the GOP pretended there was nothing wrong with Dubya until they forgot about him after his presidency? Until then, it was all grin and bear it. They can do the same with Akin.

Don't bring in the hatred vote. Let them join the Sovereign Citizen Movement instead.

[Thrill]

2. Yawn. More than anyone she needed to hear Gov. Patrick's speech

Grow a backbone and be a Democrat.

As much as she loves to use twitter. I noticed not one mention of the convention the last few days.
Shameful.

[liberalmike27]

7. Yea

And part of that backbone includes pushing some rhetoric that might have become unpopular in the last 30 years, especially in this time where Republican policy has created such massive unemployment, and manufacturing has been deliberately exported from this country.

[secondwind]

3. You'd think the Convention is being held in Rome. For pete's sake, fly in and fly out !!!!

[RC]

4. Claire would probably would be uncomfortable surrounded by all those Democrats.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

5. Agree - she made a poor choice not to attend

An appearance on a national stage would have benefited her greatly. Given the outrageous statements and yuck factor of Akin, she could have pulled out some super zingers. And the rest of the party would have rallied around her. She seriously needs to get onboard.

[heaven05]

8. blue dog?

[Zambero]

9. More like slightly left-of-center

However, in order to win a closely contested race in a state with a large rural conservative population, she will need to come across as more of a "Blue Dog". Backbone is fine, but in politics perception is reality. Doing whatever it takes to retain her seat and prevent the GOP from taking over another house of Congress is the order of the day. Right now Claire is doing what it takes to beat Akin. I wish her all the best in that endeaver.

[heaven05]

10. no problem

just curious. you are right about order of the day.

[Redford]

11. If she should lose to Akin neither side will be happy.

Romney should send her some money.