While we regularly see threads on the CT-Sen primary, and to the lesser extent PA-Sen, MT-Sen, and MD-Sen, I rarely see threads dealing with the Missouri Senate race. This race is perhaps one of our best pickup opportunities (after Santorum, Burns, and Chafee) but it's not getting enough attention.
This seat is more Democratic than you would think. Ashcroft held the seat for one term before
being defeated posthumously) by Mel Carnahan (51%-48%), the then-Governor who was killed in a plane crash only a month before the election. Carnahan's wife, Jean, was appointed to the seat, and was allowed to fill its vacancy until a special election held in 2002. Unfortunately, Jean Carnahan {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Carnahan was narrowly defeated) by Jim Talent - 49.8%-48.6%. Talent won, by and large, because 2002 was a Republican election year. He had Bush's post-9/11 coattails to help him, and the loss of this Senate seat (as well as losing Wellstone's seat) cost us the Senate, and changed the balance from 50D-49R-1I to 51R-48D-1I. This year we have a chance to avenge one of those 2002 loses with Claire McCaskill.
McCaskill has a steller career record. She's Missouri's State Auditor, and in her 2004 campaign for Governor, she [http://en.wikipedia.org/... defeated incumbent Governor Bob Holden. She became the first person in state history to do so. She narrowly lost to "Baby Blunt" 50.8% to 447.9%. Thankfully, she has the last laugh, as Matt Blunt's job approval is in the toilet. The most recent Survey USA poll shows him with a 38% job approval. The ironic thing about her 2004 defeat is that Blunt's unpopularity, combined with Bush's and the low ratings for Congress, could propel her to the Senate.
Unfortunately, while this is a good pickup she trails badly in money. Talent has $7,123,022 cash on hand, while McCaskill has $2,779,993 cash on hand.
You can help her by donating at: https://secure.democratsenators.org/dia/organizations/CMC/shop/custom.jsp
She needs every cent, and if she can narrow the money gap, then she can win! Imagine: Senator Casey, Senator Tester, Senator Lamont, Senator, Sherrod Brown, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Cardin/Mfume, and Senator McCaskill!