Republican Sen. Roy Blunt faces a serious Democratic challenger in Jason Kander, Missouri’s secretary of state. And Blunt faces that challenge—from a young, aggressive, former Army intelligence officer who’s been elected statewide—in what may be the worst possible year for a Republican incumbent. As in, the year Donald Trump will be at the top of the ballot for Republicans.
That’s likely to lead to more awkward exchanges like the recent one in which Blunt tried to explain why he wouldn’t be attending the Republican National Convention this summer:
“You know, I haven’t gone to the convention for more than a day or two in a long time,” Blunt said, adding that his primary election is two weeks later.
But, a reporter asked him, has he ever skipped one entirely?
A long pause ensued. “You know, I’d have to think through the conventions,” Blunt said. “I know I didn’t go to San Diego,” in 1996.
“Conventions,” he added a moment later, “have never been very appealing to me.”
Being tied to Trump won’t help Blunt with anyone but the Republican base. Meanwhile, the Republican base is embracing outsiders, while Blunt is a hardcore establishment guy who’s been in Congress since the 1990s and has served in both House and Senate Republican leadership.
Missouri is a long-shot state for Democrats, but Jason Kander is a strong candidate and Roy Blunt is not exactly tailor-made for 2016. Kander needs our help.
Please give $3 to help boot Blunt from the Senate.