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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye
on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon
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PubDef will be heading back to Iowa tomorrow, following the final hours of the important Iowa caucuses and the night's victory celebrations.
The latest polls show Illinois Senator Barack Obama (32%) in the lead over Senator Hillary Clinton (25%) and former senator John Edwards (24%) in the Democratic field.
On the Republican side, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (32%) is leading Mitt Romney (26%) and John McCain (13%).
For those not heading to Iowa, St. Louis Democrats will be hosting their own "caucus" tomorrow night.
Gearing up for the primary election season the Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis will welcome Democratic activists to The Royale Food and Spirits, 3132 S. Kingshighway, for an old-fashioned caucus to pick a presidential candidate for the Democratic Party.
The non-binding, unofficial caucus will be hosted by 9th Ward Democratic Committeeman Ron Auer and will be monitored by Kyle Dubbert, Republican Supervisor of the St. Louis City Election Board.
U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took a break from her campaigning in Iowa to rally the troops and raise some quick campaign cash here in St. Louis Sunday.
Clinton was introduced at The Pageant by former St. Louis Congressman and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, who wasted no time making the case, as he sees it, for why the country needs a change in the White House.
"This president we have now is the worst in president in the history of the country," said Gephardt.
Gephardt also took a subtle shot at Senator Barack Obama, who has a slight lead on Clinton in the latest Iowa polls. "What we need most now is somebody that doesn't need on-the-job training," said the former south St. Louis representative.
In her speech, Clinton proposed opening the same health plan offered to members of Congress to all Americans. She also promised to bring the troops home from Iraq "as quickly and as responsibly as we possibly can" and to end Bush's "No Child Left Behind" education plan, which Clinton called an unfunded mandate.
Clinton delivered her speech in front of bleachers full of supporters, including Reverends B.T. Rice and Earl Nance. As far as we could tell, the only current elected officials in attendance were State Reps Rachel Storch and Ester Haywood.
Mayor Francis Slay, who has endorsed Clinton, did not attend the event. Protesters threatened to picket the event if he showed up. However, his chief of staff, Jeff Rainford, was in the audience.
Targeting Illegals: Blunt Proposes "New" Law to Deny Drivers Licenses
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 6:00 AM
Governor Matt Blunt stopped by St. Louis police headquarters Monday to announce his latest step to pull up the welcome mat for illegal immigrants in Missouri.
Blunt proposed making it illegal for "illegals" to get a drivers license. Blunt's Democratic challenger, Attorney General Jay Nixon, wasted no time in pointing out that such a law already exists.
In fact, when questioned about the need for this "new" law, Blunt admitted that of the 110 people arrested since he ordered state Highway Patrol officers to check the immigration status of everyone they pull over, only one was found to have a drivers license.
A new Zogby Interactive poll confirms what many Democrats already believe: If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, Democrats will lose.
The polls suggests Clinton would lose to every one of the top five Republican presidential contenders. Meanwhile, fellow Democrats Barack Obama of Illinois and John Edwards of North Carolina would defeat every one of the Republicans, this latest survey shows.
CLINTON vs. REPUBLICANS
OBAMA vs. REPUBLICANS
EDWARDS vs. REPUBLICANS
Clinton will be in St. Louis this Sunday, Dec. 2. She will be speaking at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar, at 5:00 PM. This is Sen. Clinton's last trip here before the Iowa primaries. Student tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.hillaryclinton.com/stlouis.
UPDATE: The Missouri Republican Party's response to the Dems new video game:
"While Democrats prefer to spend their time and donor resources on frivolous pursuits in a make-believe world, Governor Blunt and Republicans are focused on real world concerns like improving the quality of life for all Missourians, which is certainly no game.
"Missourians want grownups running the state, not children, which is why Republicans continue to be so successful and Democrats continue to play political games instead of offering solutions."
On Friday, KMOV Channel 4 interviewed Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, who is the new official local spokesperson for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, and PubDef.net editor Antonio French on the results of a new KMOV/Post-Dispatch poll showing Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani leading their primary races.
In a crowded union hall Wednesday, Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced his group's support of Attorney General Jay Nixon for governor.
Nixon accepted the endorsement and gave a speech outlining his plan to improve workers' rights and his willingness to fight current governor, Matt Blunt, for control of the state.
"They're going to spend $25 million saying bad things about me in the next 363 days," said Nixon. "And I'm ready to rumble."
Congressman Lacy Clay will be endorsing the campaign of Rev. James Morris, who is running for the state House seat currently occupied by Rep. Rodney Hubbard*, who's running for the state senate. Clay earlier announced his endorsement of Hubbard's senate bid.
Rev. James T. Morris, pastor of Lane Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, will officially kick off his canvassing activities on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The event will be held on the parking lot of SEIU, Local 2000 offices, 5585 Pershing Ave. Clay will be on hand to publicly announce his endorsement of Morris.
From the press release:
In addition to Lacy Clay, the following elected officials have endorsed Morris: Alderman Terry Kennedy (18th Ward), Alderman Frank Williamson, State Reps. Robin Wright-Jones (63 rd District), Esther Haywood (71st District), Rachel Storch (64th District), and Juanita Head Walton (69th District), and 2nd Ward Committeewoman Mattie Moore.
Below is a partial list of many clergy and community leaders who have endorsed Morris: Rev. Sammie Jones, Rev. Douglas Parham, Bishop Willie J. Ellis, Rev. Anthony Witherspoon, Rev. Charles Brown, Rabbi Susan Talve, Sherman George, James Buford, Mary J. Armstrong, Zaki Baruti, Gary Boyd, Bernie Hayes, Ollie May Stewart, and Atty. Donnell Smith.
Morris is running against Sam Coleman. Coleman is being backed by License Collector Mike McMillan, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard, and Alderman April Ford-Griffin. *Hubbard is a client of A D French & Assoc.
Probably best known (as much as he probably wishes he wasn't) as the "angry black guy" from the first season of the mother of all reality shows, The Real World, hip-hop author Kevin Powell, who is now running for Congress, is coming to St. Louis.
Powell, the former editor of Vibe magazine, is running as a Democrat in the 10th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York. The invitation to his St. Louis event says that Powell is "widely considered one of America's most important voices in these early years of the 21st Century."
Wow! That's coming a long way from throwing a phone at Julie and claiming that black people can't be racist because they don't have power.
Powell will be at the Regional Arts Commission building, 6128 Delmar Blvd, on Monday, November 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced Friday that Senator Kit Bond (R-Missouri) has endorsed Giuliani for President. Senator Bond will serve as National Co-Chairman and the liaison to the United States Senate for the campaign.
"America is hungry for a President who will say what he means, and do what he says. The American people want and deserve a genuine leader, and that is Rudy Giuliani," said Bond. "Rudy has the leadership qualities and the experience to handle whatever challenges America faces in the next 10 years."
Around the city and county, signs supporting Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul have been popping up on roadsides and overpasses.
The signs aren't being put up by the official Ron Paul campaign, though. Paul, a Texas Congressman has several devoted, internet-based grassroots support teams. Online, the supporters flood YouTube, message boards, social networking sites and blogs with comments, graphics and videos supporting their favorite candidate. Offline, these street teams are less visible but they make their support known through signs, fliers and protests.
The St. Louis area Ron Paul support group started this past summer. The group has grown from 40 members to roughly 250. On top of that, nearby cities like Edwardsville and St. Charles have their own groups.
The essentially Libertarian Paul is attracting Internet support reminiscent of former Democratic candidate and current DNC chairman Howard Dean. According to the lead organizer for the St. Louis area Ron Paul group, Tim Blessing, Representative Paul has won over many local apathetic and first-time voters, like Blessing himself, who admittedly voted for Ralph Nader twice, just to support a third party.
"Apathy is a tremendous thing, I've found out," says Blessing. "It's pretty easy to cure once you find someone or something to inspire you."
Blessing sat down this week for an interview with PubDef.net to discuss how he came to lead the group and what he's doing to attract new members.
Last weekend, State Rep. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) launched her campaign for the state Senate.
According to Jo Mannies at the Political Fix, former St. Louis Democratic state rep. Fred Kratky's "Facts 'O Life" band was there, as was State Senator Scott Rupp, State Rep. Allen Icet and Speaker-Elect Ron Richard.
The kick-off's host committee included the mayors of Chesterfield, Town & Country, Creve Coeur, Manchester, and Fenton.
Rep. Jane Cunningham with State Rep. candidate Robin Harris and Wanda Harris
Nicholas Britto, St. Louis City school board member Veronica O'Brien, Celeste Oakland, and Jack Hoffmann of Chesterfield.
Guests at the Stand by Me fundraiser, left to right around the table...Dr. Ben Mayes (closest), Joan Kehr, Kent Kehr, Donna Hearne, Mark Hearne, Bob Bacon (mostly hidden), Karen Bacon and Ellen Mayes.
Chesterfield Township Republican Committeeman Paul Matteucci, Alicia Matteucci and Donna Hearne.
Carl and Debbie Bearden.
Cunningham campaign manager Kit Crancer with Molly Tallarico, who represents the University of Missouri.
Just a couple of days after opening a campaign office here, Senator Barack Obama will be in St. Louis today at a rally at Union Station.
Organizers say they are undertered by the sprinkles of rain. "I think it's going to be a great crowd and a great event," said Mike Dorsey, the Obama campaign's state director for Missouri. "Rain or shine, we're fired up and ready to go!"
Doors open for the St. Louis "Countdown to Change" rally will at 5:00 PM at the south parking lot of Union Station. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students).
Also tonight, city Democrats — young and old — will be putting on the make-up and wigs for their annual Halloween Party.
The St. Louis Democratic Central Committee and the Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis host their annual party tonight from 6:00 to 10:00 PM at the Glazier's Union Hall, 5916 Wilson Ave. (Southeast of Hampton and I 44). Tickets are a less-than-frightening $15 per person.
Aldermanic President Lewis Reed*, State Representative Rodney Hubbard*, and Vice-Chair of the City Democratic Party Yaphett El-Amin helped the Barack Obama Presidential campaign open their St. Louis headquarters yesterday.
U.S. Senator Kit Bond announced today that Jason Van Eaton and Matt Roney will be heading up his 2008 political operations. The senior Republican is not up for re-election until 2010, but he appears to be preparing to take a leading role in Republican campaigns for president, governor, and other statewide offices.
From the press release:
COLUMBIA, MO – As this session of Congress nears an end, U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced key staff restructuring in his personal and political operations. State Director, Jason Van Eaton, and Director for the Western Missouri District, Matt Roney, will move over to the political arm of Bond's operation.
"Jason and Matt have been essential to my official office operations. They are trusted members of my staff and I look forward to continue working with them on our political efforts in a very important election cycle," said Bond.
More on Eaton and Roney:
W. Jason Van Eaton was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. Jason has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Bond's State Director for over 7 years. Jason has also focused his efforts on appropriations projects, transportation policy, infrastructure, education, economic development, as well as several major development projects. On the political front, Jason worked on his first campaign in 1994 when John Ashcroft was running for the U.S. Senate. In 1998, Jason served as a Regional Director for Bond's reelection. During the 2000 election cycle, he was the Campaign Manager for now U.S. Congressman Todd Akin in his first run for Congress. Again in 2004 he served as Campaign Manager, this time, for Bond's reelection.
Matthew L. Roney was born and raised in greater Kansas City, Missouri. Matt has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Director for the Western Missouri District for the last 6 years. Duties included managing a district staff, coordinating appropriations requests, and coordinating governmental involvement in key economic development projects. Matt also served as Political Director for Senator Bond's successful reelection in 2004.
It looks like the Barack Obama campaign will be the first to open an office in St. Louis.
This week, supporters of the junior senator from Illinois' bid for President will open a campaign office in downtown St. Louis, in the Jack Thompson Square Building on the corner of Washington Ave. and Tucker.
The opening of the headquarters, which will likely occur on Tuesday Wednesday, comes just a few days before Sen. Obama comes to St. Louis for a rally on Friday at Union Station.
Shamed Dogan, Republican candidate for State Representative in Missouri's 88th District, announced Monday that his 3rd quarter financial report will show that he raised over $12,000 from 125 different contributors, including State Reps Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield), Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood); four of Ballwin's eight Aldermen—Tim Pogue, Jim Robinson, Jane Suozzi and Jimmy Terbrock; St. Louis County Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger; St. Louis City Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett; and Ferguson Alderman James Knowles.
From the press release:
"I appreciate the help I've received from my family, friends, and concerned citizens who share my vision for a smaller, better Missouri government," Dogan said. "I am also very thankful to Jim Talent for being a supporter and a role model."
Dogan also received contributions from prominent Republicans including former State Rep. Brent Evans; Ray Wagner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Missouri Federation of Young Republicans Chair Monica Durrwachter; St. Louis County Republican Committeeman Kurt Witzel; and St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Dwight Billingsly.
Here's our earlier video from Shamed Dogan's campaign kick-off in July:
