MO Senate: St. Treasurer (Nancy Farmer (D)) Expected to Challenge Bond (R)

[goobergunch]

Democrat Nancy Farmer, the Missouri treasurer, is leaning toward challenging three-term Republican Sen. Kit Bond next year, an aide said Friday.

"I'm sure the announcement she makes will make a lot of people happy," said Farmer aide Judy Roman. "I would say she is leaning toward it. But there's still a number of pieces that have to fall into place."

Farmer will announce her decision by the end of next week, Roman said.

If Farmer launches a campaign, it would fill a gap in next year's Democratic ticket. Missouri Democrats have been searching for a competitive challenger for months and were disappointed that two potential contenders, state auditor Claire McCaskill and Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell, declined to run.

more...http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/6335898.htm

[CMT]

1. this is very good

She has proven she can win statewide and I think Bond (who has never won with more than 53%) can be vulnerable.

[goobergunch]

4. I just looked it up...

2000 Election Result
Missouri Treasurer

ex-St. Rep. Nancy Farmer (D) 51.5%
Platte Co. prosecuter Todd Graves (R) 45.9%
computer programmer Arnold J. Trembley (L) 0.8%
college student Ray VanLandingham (G) 0.8%
ex-city alderman Terrence D. "Terry" Frank (Rfm) 0.4%
Kerry Culligan (Cns) 0.3%
Marvin Carter (NL) 0.2%

http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/stbyst.htm

She beat the Repuke by 5.6%

[KCDem]

2. Bond needs to go.

He's quite an ass and I look forward to Farmer beating him.

:kick:

[jos]

3. It is good news, but

unless Gephardt is on the ticket, it still will be a tough one to win. Putting aside the freak election of the widow Carnahan in '00, a Democrat has not won a Senate election in Missouri since 1980!

[election_2004]

5. A similar thing can be said about Alaska....

Yet, Tony Knowles has a decent shot of being the first Dem elected to the U.S. Senate from Alaska in years.

Plus, Missouri is an important swing state, so I'm sure that the DNC will be putting a lot of GOTV efforts toward Farmer's bid.

[jos]

8. But different circumstances there

In Alaska you have a former two-term Governor running against the appointed daughter of his successor. In Missouri you have an incumbent Senator who has won three elections.

[jiacinto]

6. Bond has been lucky in having weak opponents

That's been a major reason. If this woman get her act together, raise enough money, and reach enough voters, she could do it.

[jos]

7. I don't know about that

I think Jay Nixon and Harriet Woods were actually stronger than Farmer.

[jiacinto]

9. Didn't Nixon have issues with the black community?

nt

[goobergunch]

10. Nixon's actions on the St. Louis school desegregation cases...

were very unpopular with the black community...Rep. Bill Clay (D-St. Louis) spoke out against him and the NAACP threatened to picket a Clinton fundraiser for Nixon.

[mndemocrat_29]

11. Farmer's Chances

Glad she's in the race. I was thoroughly disappointed that we didn't eke it out with Jean Carnahan in 2002, so having Nancy Farmer beat Sen. Kit Bond (a Republican I despise ten times more than Jim Talent) would be a welcome victory. Go Nancy!

Sen. Nancy Farmer (D-MO)

It has a nice ring to it.