Here at EMILY's List, we love to talk about the leadership "pipeline" that's so important to helping women candidates gain experience and get elected at all levels of government. And right now, there's no better example of the pipeline in action than Karen Bass, the current speaker of the California Assembly who has just announced her bid for Congress in California's 33rd congressional district.
Bass, who has been supported by EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program at the state level, has quickly risen through the ranks of California politics, and now she's in the race to fill the open seat of retiring EMILY's List alum Cong. Diane Watson. Watson gave her full backing to Bass at a news conference yesterday, saying, "I 100% -- maybe 300% -- endorse Karen Bass."
Bass helped us with a video we put together for our 20th anniversary five years ago, speaking about why it's so important that women run for office. It's great to hear from so many of our elected women talking about why they ran.
Take a look (and watch for another pipeline candidate, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who's currently running for Senate!):
If voters want something different, the GOP knows its Missouri Senate candidate doesn't have much to offer. That's why they've already resorted to attack ads against Democratic candidate and current Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.
More than 8 months from election day, and the GOP is already taking the gloves off, attempting to blame the country's woes on Robin. Robin has made a name for herself as a strong voice for reform who gets results and puts Missourians ahead of partisan bickering.
But that doesn't mean right-wing attacks -- and money -- aren't having an effect on the race. Recent polling shows the GOP's candidate, conservative loyalist Cong. Roy Blunt, with a slight lead in the race, making clear that we can't waste a moment helping Robin prepare for a tough battle.
Robin must work now to get her message out to voters and make sure she has the resources to fight back against right-wing attacks and win this seat.
That's what Marc Ambinder called a number of GOP candidates in key races this election cycle. In a recent post on The Atlantic's Politics blog, Ambinder said exactly what we've been noticing in tight races across the country -- tried-and-true GOP loyalists repeating much of the same mantra we've heard before (renegotiating that Contract with America, anyone?).
In particular, Ambinder zeroed in on the Senate race in Missouri, where Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is facing GOP Cong. Roy Blunt, a former member of the Republican House leadership that backed President Bush's agenda.
Here's what Ambinder had to say: "In Missouri, Senate candidate Roy Blunt is to Washington insider like Sammy Davis, Jr. is to rat pack." And, with all the talk of independent action coming from the Republican party, Ambinder pointed out that Blunt's "insider-y-ness" might be the opposite of what voters are looking for. "...[I]f independents are truly independent in November, and if they turn out, Blunt will not win their hearts or minds without a big fight."
This is good news for Robin, a proven vote-getter who knows how to get results when it comes to protecting consumers from fraud and waste. But Blunt's party connections and special interest ties will mean major financial support from conservatives.
Already, Blunt has called in political favors from top GOPers, including Bush ally Karl Rove. Rove even boasted about his personal donation to Blunt in the Wall Street Journal.
In a message to her supporters this week, Robin pointed out exactly why the Blunt/Rove friendship makes for such a natural pairing: "Karl Rove and Congressman Blunt are both Washington insiders infamous for doing favors for lobbyists and their too-big-to-fail Wall Street friends...yes, the same people whose reckless spending drove our country to the brink of financial disaster, leaving us to pay the bill."
Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan had a great guest piece in the Joplin Globe today, highlighting her work to protect Missouri investors as the current secretary of state. Robin knows how critical it is to restore economic stability -- for Missouri and across the country -- and she has the experience to help take steps toward recovery.
Here's a quick excerpt from her post:
As Missouri’s secretary of state and chief securities regulator, it is my job to oversee the actions of advisors and brokers; educate Missourians about safe investing; and help victims of fraud get their money back.
While federal regulators were asleep at the switch and Congress let Wall Street titans run wild, here in Missouri we’ve been hard at work making sure brokers and financial institutions play by the rules.
While we are lucky to have thousands of reputable financial professionals doing business in our state, unfortunately we still get reports every day from Missourians who have been exploited or misled by those entrusted with their savings.
Since 2005, we’ve launched more than 1,000 investigations throughout the state. An interactive map on our Web site (www.MissouriSafeSavings.com) shows geographically where these actions have occurred and the types of issues involved. In every case our office has focused on two primary goals: First, whenever possible, return money to victims; and second, stop the problems and abuse from happening again. To date, our efforts have paid off, and we have helped tens of thousands of investors recoup more than $10 billion of their lost savings.
We knew the Missouri Senate race would be tight, but this open seat battle is shaping up to be one for the record books.
In a new survey by Public Policy Polling, EMILY's List candidate Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is running neck and neck with likely GOP nominee Cong. Roy Blunt. In the poll, Carnahan edged out Blunt with 43% of the vote, only one percent above Blunt's 42%. The poll's margin of error was ±3.6%. In the last PPP Missouri Senate poll -- conducted in January -- Carnahan led Blunt 45%-44%, showing this race will undoubtedly be close until the very end.
We're gearing up to make sure Robin has the resources she needs to communicate with and mobilize Missouri voters. We are encouraged that Carnahan's favorability ratings remain high.
Accordingto Dean Debnam of PPP, "If Robin Carnahan had faced off against Roy Blunt in any election year between 1996 and 2008, she would likely have won, given her superior popularity... But 2010 has the potential to be an extremely good year for Republicans, and that's made this race highly competitive."
This one will stay competitive all the way through Election Day.
Former GOP House Whip Cong. Roy Blunt has done plenty of favors for his GOP colleagues in Congress, raising millions through his Rely on Your Beliefs PAC. Now, it appears, it's his turn to reap the benefits.
Last quarter, Blunt, who's running for Missouri Senate, was among the top Republican recipients of PAC money -- much of which came from his colleagues in Washington.
Many of the Republicans once helped by Blunt's PAC are donating to his Missouri Senate race, helping him raise nearly $100,000 last quarter from the PACs or campaign funds of congressional Republicans. Almost three out of four of the Republican House members who have given to Blunt's Senate race were once aided by his Rely on Your Beliefs PAC.
With friends like these, Blunt will have plenty of insider party help to build a massive campaign war chest -- and that's all the more reason EMILY's List candidate Robin Carnahan will be counting on our support to level the playing field and win in 2010.
Who doesn't love a reunion? Good food, good friends, good...fundraisers?
Missouri Senate candidate Cong. Roy Blunt is having a little reunion of his own -- inviting his buddy Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House, to attend a fundraiser with some of his Missouri supporters. (And "supporter" in this instance appears to mean deep-pocketed donor. Attendance at a private reception with a photo shoot came with a $100,400 request.) Blunt, who's up against EMILY's List candidate Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, knows he'll have a tough race, so he's recruiting major GOP names to help him out.
And what a perfect time for the Gingrich fundraiser, too! As the health care debate takes place around the country, Blunt reaches out to a pal who has long put special interests ahead of reform, particularly in the health care arena. This July, Gingrich agreed with fellow conservatives on the need to kill health care reform. And considering the more than $500,000 Blunt has received from the insurance industry, it's no shock he's putting their concerns ahead of constituents.
The Missouri Democratic Party really put this into perspective, explaining that the $100,400 price tag equals "7 years worth of health insurance for an average family" or the Medicare premiums for 1,000 seniors this month.
But, hey, you can't put a price on a reunion among old friends, can you?
They call Missouri the "Show-Me State" for a reason. We knew the battle for the Senate between two major political names would be a tough one in this truly purple state, and the voters of Missouri are showing us exactly how challenging it's going to be.
In a recent Rasmussen poll, EMILY's List candidate (and current Secretary of State) Robin Carnahan garnered 46% of the vote among poll participants -- and her opponent, GOP Cong. Roy Blunt, received exactly the same percentage. Calling the results "uncommonly close," Rasmussen showed this race will come down to the wire. And while Carnahan shows strong favorability among Democrats and a lead among women voters, Blunt has his own lead among GOPers and men. Elections in Missouri have been won and lost by a handful of votes, and both parties will be reaching out to one essential group: swing voters.
With polls this tight, Robin doesn't have time to spare. She'll be hard at work contacting voters and getting her message out across the state -- and we'll be right there with her, making sure she has the resources to come out on top.
Vincent David Jericho is pretty fed up with Roy Blunt. Apparently, Michael Steele might be too.
Jericho, the host of a conservative Missouri radio talk show, recently interviewed Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, and the two got to talking about the Republican Senate candidate Roy Blunt, who will likely face off with EMILY's List candidate and current secretary of state, Robin Carnahan.
Partial transcript:
Jericho: "His [Matt Blunt's] daddy [Roy] screwed around with a tobacco lobbyist ... then slips language into the homeland security bill favorable to the tobacco lobbyist. I mean here is a guy that has committed adultery multiple times. Yet he had a senior position, and still does, in the Republican Party. Guys like Papa Blunt make us sick to our stomach. ...
Steele: Look, now don't, don't - I mean, I agree with you. And when stuff gets in the crapper, you gotta clean it out.
Hold the phone - is the RNC chair really saying that his leading candidate for the Republican Senate seat in Missouri needs to be flushed down "the crapper"? Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the leader of your own party.
Opponents of health care reform are working hard to prove the old adage "a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
Last week, Congressman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), chair of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group, had a meeting with reporters and editors of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, during which he made several false statements.
"I’m 59. In either Canada or Great Britain, if I broke my hip, I couldn’t get it replaced."
(First of all, Blunt isn't really talking about a broken hip - he’s talking about hip replacement surgery. Articulate he is not.) According to the Post-Dispatch, "At least 63 percent of hip replacements performed in Canada last year and two-thirds of those done in England were on patients age 65 or older. More than 1,200 in Canada were done on people older than 85." When they explained this to Blunt, he said he heard it in testimony from "some people who are supposed to be experts on Canadian health care." Hmm... that inspires about as much confidence as "It must be true; I read it on Wikipedia."
According to Blunt, uninsured Americans can just walk into any ER and get a hip replacement. "If they go to the emergency room, I think they can get that done," he said.
Let’s be clear: if you BROKE your hip, you could go to an ER and get help. But that's not what Blunt is talking about - and most people know they don't do hip replacement surgeries in the ER. The chairman of the House Republican Health Care Solutions Group certainly should.
Of the 47 million uninsured in this country, Blunt says, "Ten to 12 million of them are in the country illegally. Everyone sort of agrees on that."
Again with the confidence-inspiring sourcing! Turns out Blunt's wrong about that, too. According to the Post-Dispatch, "the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation puts the number of uninsured who are immigrants - both legal and illegal - at about 9 million. The National Institute for Health Care Management, another nonpartisan group, estimates that about 5.6 million illegal immigrants are among the 45.7 million people who were uninsured in 2007."
Read the Post-Dispatch’s SNAP editorial right here.
Shockingly, Blunt wants a promotion to the U.S. Senate. His likely opponent is EMILY’s List-endorsed Democrat Robin Carnahan, Missouri's secretary of state - whose grasp of the health insurance crisis is considerably more sophisticated. You can read more about Robin here.
On a side note: I planned to start this post with that great Mark Twain quote about the truth putting on its shoes, because Mark Twain is from Missouri and Roy Blunt is from Missouri and I thought it would add a nice little flourish. But it didn't take me long to find out that, while Twain usually gets the credit, he was probably paraphrasing a proverb that had been around for many years.
Alas, Blunt doesn't suffer from the same compunction for accuracy: he just goes around saying stuff that he heard somewhere from someone who is supposed to be an expert or that everyone sort of agrees on. And he's not the only one (I'm talking about YOU, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa!).
Here's a REAL Twain quote these folks should ponder: "How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!"
Blunt recently edged Carnahan in second quarter fundraising - one more reason why she needs your help more than ever and is counting on supporters like you to help her reach the Senate. Click here to contribute.
Don't hold your breath for the promised Republican heath care reform bill. After saying last month that GOPers would offer their own proposal to counter Democratic plans, former Republican House whip and current Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Roy Blunt announced yesterday that no such bill is coming.
Or so we think.
House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner had a different message, saying Republicans were just putting the "final touches" on the bill. Confused? So are we.
According to Blunt, who's running against EMILY's List candidate Robin Carnahan, the decision to forgo a Republican bill is the result of feasibility: "Our bill is never going to get to the floor, so why confuse the focus?"
Here's my question, though: If you're not willing to work with Democrats on their legislation and you're not offering anything of your own, where does that leave uninsured Americans? I can't help but think all the GOP chatter about their own proposal comes down to one thing: stalling crucial Democratic initiatives in an attempt to make political gains in 2010.
This week marks a critical time for campaigns, as they get up and running for next year’s elections. On July 15th, campaigns are required by the FEC and many state elections boards to make public their fundraising totals though June 30th. These numbers give those of us who follow this stuff closely a good sense of candidates’ early strength -- candidates we are already supporting, candidates we might support and all of their filed opponents. While the national headlines would seem to suggest a leaderless GOP in disarray, some of the numbers I’ve seen this week show Republican donors pumped and primed to do what it takes to hold and gain key seats in 2010.
Examples include some of the hottest races around the country:
In Missouri, EMILY’s List candidate Robin Carnahan, running in Missouri’s open Senate race, raised an impressive amount -- over $1 million for the second quarter in a row. But her likely opponent Rep. Roy Blunt, who wasn’t even guaranteed a clear primary field, raised more than $1 million as well. So much for disaffected Republicans. This one will be competitive the whole way.
EMILY's List Senate candidates Robin Carnahan (MO) and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) posted strong quarterly fundraising numbers, and they each made a special effort to thank EMILY's List members for their support. Below are their notes.
From Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who's running for the open Senate seat there: From New York's junior senator, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's seat:
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