Voter Guide: Senate race could tip the balance

By James Patrick Schmidt and Juana Summers

Published Nov. 3, 2006

As Election Day approaches, campaign workers for both Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and State Auditor Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., are focused on how important the U.S. Senate race is not only for Missouri but also for the country.

Talent works to stay the course

Supporters of Talent's campaign for re-election to the Senate said they are prepared to work through Election Day, which they feel will be critical for the Republican Party to hold Congress.

"It's going to decide the Senate," College Republicans President Tyson Mutrux said. "It's going to come down to Missouri. If all the other races go Democratic, it will be up to Missouri to keep the Congress Republican."

So far, the College Republicans have worked approximately 400 hours for Republican campaign efforts, and they intend to work approximately 200 more this past weekend.

"The College Republicans are going to be participating in the '72-Hour campaign' along with the Republican Party," Mutrux said. "It involves making phone calls and going door to door."

The state Republican Party is focusing on what it feels is important for the state.

"There is a lot at stake nationally in this election," Missouri Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca said. "But I think Senator Talent is focusing on what's best for Missouri. He has always been focused on Missouri — that is his first priority."

The GOP fears that if McCaskill is elected, the state will be worse off.

"Jim Talent has gone to Washington and represented Missouri very well, what is at stake is what Jim Talent has to offer compared to what Claire McCaskill has to offer," Sloca said. "Claire has consistently voted for higher taxes, she opposed the energy bill, she supports same-sex marriage and she supports abortion on demand. I think this is an obvious choice for Missourians."

Talent's office was unavailable for comment.

McCaskill works for change

McCaskill campaign spokeswoman Adrienne Marsh speculated that without a Senate victory for McCaskill, there is little chance of the Democrats regaining control of the Senate.

"It comes down to a battleground state in terms of a national perspective," Marsh said. "If people are interested in making change in Washington, we need a strong advocate and an independent voice in Washington who can make that difference."

McCaskill's campaign efforts, as well as her supporters, include a large student population and adult volunteers. College Democrats President Nate Kennedy said many of McCaskill's stances on issues reflect young voters' stances.

"Of course, many people our age and several relatives and friends of mine have served in Iraq or are serving in Iraq," Kennedy said. "McCaskill definitely wants there to be a plan of action in Iraq as opposed to just staying the course."

Other issues Kennedy highlighted as important to young adult voters in this election are the minimum wage increase and the stem cell research initiative.

Jack Cardetti, spokesman for the Missouri Democratic Party, said a Democratic goal was to increase the number of college-age voters, as the views of Democrats "traditionally blend very well with student voters."

"Students, especially in college towns like Columbia, are often the backbone of our campaign organization," Cardetti said.

College Democrats worked in conjunction with Project Victory to volunteer for McCaskill's campaign. On campus, the group registered more than 500 new voters in the last month of voter registration, Kennedy said.

"We've probably got over 100 people volunteering today, and every day, and we're going to have a whole lot of people working on paid canvassing," Kennedy said.

Nationally, Missouri's Senate race has been highlighted as one of the statistically closest, and both Democrats and Republicans have strengthened their campaign in order to potentially shape the character of the Senate.

Cardetti said that principal differences between McCaskill and Talent are Talent's stances on stem cell research, policy in Iraq and health care.

"Voters can go to the polls on Election Day and demand change," Cardetti said. "They can do that (by) voting for Claire McCaskill as opposed to Talent."