Republicans encourage Schweich to run for Senate

David A. Lieb, Associated Press

Friday, March 9, 2012

A group of 18 Republican donors, businessmen and politicians is publicly encouraging State Auditor Tom Schweich to jump into Missouri’s already crowded Republican primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

The Republicans released an “open letter” to Schweich on Thursday, praising him as the best possible candidate. The move comes just days after supporters created a political committee that will allow money to be raised and spent while Schweich tests the waters for a Senate candidacy.

Schweich has until March 27 — Missouri’s candidacy filing deadline — to decide whether to enter the Republican Senate primary in August.

McCaskill already has three prominent Republican challengers — U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, St. Louis businessman John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman. But the group trying to build support for a Schweich candidacy contends that none of them could match up against McCaskill as well as Schweich could in the November general election.

The lead signers on the letter are Republican donor Sam Fox, of St. Louis, and former U.S. Sen. John Danforth. Schweich was Danforth’s chief of staff for the 1999 federal investigation into the deadly government siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, and followed Danforth to the United Nations, where he was chief of staff for the U.S. delegation.

Danforth and Fox also encouraged Schweich to run for Senate in 2010 before Schweich ultimately deferred to fellow Republican Roy Blunt and instead declared his candidacy for auditor. While campaigning for auditor, Schweich pledged he would serve the full four-year term instead of trying to jump to a higher office in the middle of his tenure.

The letter from Republican supporters attempts to give Schweich political cover from that pledge if he decides to run.

“We urge you to reconsider your intention to serve your full term as Missouri State Auditor and run for the United States Senate,” the letter states. It adds: “We strongly believe that, during these trying times, serving the national interest trumps anything you have said regarding serving out your term as Auditor.”

Schweich has declined to comment about his Senate race considerations.

Other Republicans already in the race reacted Thursday without mentioning Schweich by name.

“As I’ve said from the beginning, I am the candidate the status quo fears the most, because I do what I say I’m going to do,” Steelman said.

Akin spokesman Ryan Hite said he welcomed “a healthy and robust campaign,” adding: “We are confident that at the end of the day constituents across Missouri will recognize and support Todd Akin’s proven and trusted conservative leadership.”

Brunner spokesman Todd Abrajano contended that his campaign message was resonating across the state.

“We see a very clear path to victory in the primary as well as the general election, regardless of who ultimately chooses to enter the race,” Abrajano said.

More like this story

spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago

If nobody were to run against Claire, I still would write in ham sandwich. Her fingers are stained with Obamacare ink, and that's all I need to know.

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

It is precisely her support for the decades overdue national health care laws that would encourage me to vote for her, even against my favorite sandwich. She is accused of being an absolute and unthinking extension of Obama, but when debate finally gets serious about alternatives or changes to national health care, I think she'll show herself an original thinker. She is a capable, moderate democrat willing to compromise.

spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago

"moderate democrat"? -- Surely you jest. What part of the largest entitlement in US history is "moderate"? Better question, what did Pelosi, Reed, and Co. promise Ms. McCaskill for her vote?

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

Yes, McCaskill is a moderate, center-left Democrat. True lefties don't often get elected in Missouri, and certainly not to the Senate. Bringing the richest nation on Earth into the modern socially responsible era by having national healthcare is not very far left except in the eyes of the greediest in the medical industry and those they fool into calling routine healthcare an "Entitlement." Moderate, responsible politicians will make Healthcare work, but it will NOT go away. It is too important to the overall cost of medical care and the government's responsibility to the general welfare of it's citizens, at every level. You can take part in the process, or sit on the sidelines mouthing the lies of greed crafted in the ad agencies owned by greed.

zimbabwe 1 year, 2 months ago

If McCaskill is a moderate Democrat then you're Sarah Palin and my dog is the Queen of England!

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

Saw yer pup on the telly doin' the Jubilee tour sweetie, donchya know . . .

spelchek 1 year, 2 months ago

"...those they fool into calling routine healthcare an "Entitlement.""

Merriam-Webster--

Entitlement: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

We all know the definition(s). It's your negative use of the word that gets it in quotes.

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

Grace your persistance in saying that social programs have failed everywhere really cuts into your crredibility. All government programs, whether infrastructure, military or social, have problems. They have temporaily failed in some countries at some times. But all stable, and most un-stable, governments have effective social programs that usually work..Their effectiveness, solvency and acceptance are all matters of administrative and fiscal management, not morality or political bent. Your constant anti-government falsehoods render your otherwise reasonable conservatism useless.

PRO 1 year, 2 months ago

Shouldn't the "Moderate" Senator be enforced to take on this Social Program also. She has never listened to who voted her in. When you tried to call, all you got was a voice message. She needs to be voted out.

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

No politician at that level answers their phone. She seems to listen as well as any, which is why she knows we need national healthcare. Her senate insurance is a sweet plan for the well-heeled, and meets the National Healthcare requirements. What's your point?

PRO 1 year, 2 months ago

my point is, when she ran for office, she claimed she was for Missourians. So when Missourians told her not to vote for Obamacare, she did any way. Do you work for Claire? If you do, Bye, Bye! I'm betting you're one that complained about gas prices when Bush was in office, yet i hear nothing now. Start looking for a job, because November can't get here soon enough.

zimbabwe 1 year, 2 months ago

Not even close

viktorkowski 1 year, 2 months ago

are talking about the same socialized healthcare that the republican congressmen use?

tonto_goldberg 1 year, 2 months ago

Company-paid health care is one of the reasons the USA lost its competitive position in manufacturing. All kinds of other countries are making single-payers systems work. It saves money because physicians don't make hundreeds of thousands of dollars a year in any other country. Neither do insurance company executives.

deforrest 1 year, 2 months ago

Schweich needs to keep his promise and fulfill his term as Auditor. Broken promises won't help him get elected. Also, it's interesting all the big money is trying to get Schweich to run in spite of his promise. Money does talk, doesn't it...especially to career politicians and auditors.

RobHunterJohnson 1 year, 2 months ago

Graceful, wait until you need your Health Care, I hope you have insurance? Ask for an itemized billing! How are Jobs and Healthcare related, (anti Claire add) It seem like some PAC has joined them at the hip! Rob

asb 1 year, 2 months ago

Grace, if you don't have insurance, then the cost of treating you is higher, and I pay for that with my premiums. This is basic to the issue, if we all pay for insurance, we all pay less for medical care.

sickandtired 1 year, 2 months ago

asb makes the comment that McCaskill is moderate stating "when debate finally gets serious about alternatives or changes to national health care, I think she'll show herself an original thinker. She is a capable, moderate democrat willing to compromise. " The only problem with this is that if she was moderate she would have debated a compromise before She jumped on the Obama band wagon and pushed to pass the bill before anybody could read all of it. Where was the compromise when it mattered? Also seems strange that when over 71% of Missourians disagreed with Obamacare that she still voted for it- sounds like a puppet to me.

RobHunterJohnson 1 year, 2 months ago

Graceful, The core of Americas insurance problem is people who are not insured, it has been for a long time. I do not care what you have until some of my premium is used to pay for people like you! Rob

John 1 year, 2 months ago

Actually, unless it is a county hospital, the only care that canNOT be refused to someone is life saving care. . . . even then, once stabilized they can be discharged.

John 1 year, 2 months ago

Instead of "county" I should have written "public."

RobHunterJohnson 1 year, 2 months ago

Graceful, I said I hope you have insurance, I am not talking about removing a wart. I am talking about a catastrophic policy that does not cut it, When the bills go out of sight, they could be after the house, and the little savings two people have! Possibly a little preventitive could have helped this , but they did not go to the DOCTOR for lack of insurance! Rob

RobHunterJohnson 1 year, 2 months ago

Graceful, keep your catstrophic policy, I will keep mine! GOOD LUCK you will need it. ROb

Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting

Or login with:

OpenID

News Tribune