Zweifel takes aim at Blunt

Posted to Politics Watch by Scott Kanowsky at 9:47 p.m., Sept. 18, 2008

State Rep. Clint Zweifel, D-St. Louis County, a candidate for Missouri State Treasurer, is, like some other well-known politicians, advocating change

In past weeks, Zweifel has presented himself as the candidate of change from the policies of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, and has engaged him more often than his opponent in the state treasurer race, state Sen. Brad Lager (R-Maryville)

Zweifel chose to become the aggressor, running various ad campaigns against Blunt—the most famous of which showed Zweifel confidently stating before a picture of Matt Blunt: “I’m Clint Zweifel and that’s Matt Blunt. And we do not agree on anything”

The ad did not mention Lager, but focused painted Blunt as an indecisive bureaucrat.

Zweifel’s offensive tactics served him well in the primaries this year. By the time he ended the four-way dogfight for the Democratic nomination, Zweifel raised nearly $500,000 and still had $155,943 cash on hand

Zweifel sees the differences between himself and Gov. Blunt as a disagreement on how to be “a public servant.

But being on offensive has allowed Republicans to thrash many of his more prominent stances

A spat between Zweifel and Blunt erupted last week over delayed paychecks to soldiers in the National Guard and sparked a heated response from Zweifel’s camp, accusing Blunt’s administration of adhering to “bureaucratic inconvenience.

Blunt’s camp retorted, saying that Zweifel was merely trying to score “political points.

Blunt also pointed out how “Zweifel did not take steps to make changes to the pay cycle in the state legislature and now he is attempting to make it a political issue.

But what is apparent is the lack of differences between Zweifel and Lager.

In a recent debate in Columbia, the two candidates agreed on nearly every issue from the use of tax credits, the quality of the state’s college savings program, and the need for transparency in government

Zweifel did, however, refer to Lager as a “rubber stamp” for Matt Blunt, but, again, the governor is still a part of the argument

It remains yet to be seen whether or not Zweifel’s aggression results in a victory.