ST. CHARLES 鈥� Four Republicans running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Missouri cast the nominating race as a decision between political experience and energy from outsiders during a candidate forum on Saturday.
Attorney Mark McCloskey, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and U.S. Representatives Billy Long and Vicky Hartzler each made their case to a filled ballroom at the Missouri GOP鈥檚 annual Lincoln Days event.
Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens was invited to the forum but did not attend.
The candidates at the forum sought to distinguish their records and experience from each other, with the dividing line along a familiar theme in recent years: outsider status and time spent in Washington DC.
Hatrzler, of Harrisonville, received a formal endorsement from Republican Senator Josh Hawley just before the forum began, and touted accomplishments from her past 12 years as a congresswoman.
鈥淚鈥檝e sponsored past bills to defend the border. I鈥檝e helped rebuild the national defense,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e helped pass rural broadband for America. I want to continue to make sure tomorrow is as bright for our kids as it was yesterday.鈥�
The congresswoman also keyed in on a topic all the candidates referenced at different points, their commitment to former President Donald Trump.
鈥淚 stood with President Trump and voted with him 95% of the time, more than anyone else in the house,鈥� she said.
Long, from Springfield, acknowledged to the crowd he didn鈥檛 vote with the former president as often, but still emphasized Trump鈥檚 important role within the GOP and its agenda.
鈥淭he best way to bring manufacturing back to the United States of America is to elect Donald Trump,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to do what Trump did on all his tough China policies, because it was starting and we were getting manufacturing back.鈥�
Long also had a more general message for Republican voters in the state beyond his own candidacy: Missourians must do what they can to ensure a Republican fills the seat after Roy Blunt retires
鈥淲e need to send the right person to the United States Senate that can not only win the primary, but also win the general election,鈥� Long said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 appalling to think that we can elect somebody that we鈥檙e going to spend $40-$50 million to get across the finish line and may not get them across the finish line.鈥�
He clarified after the forum that this comment was specifically about Eric Greitens.
The sentiment wasn鈥檛 shared among all the candidates though.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not enough to elect Republicans, to have people with an 鈥楻鈥� behind their name,鈥� McCloskey said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to have people that are willing to go out there and genuinely make change, to take a stand, no matter what it costs them. Emotionally, physically, economically, socially.鈥�
He emphasized this argument pointing to the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans were unable to repeal despite holding the presidency and majorities in both houses of Congress.
Schmitt made arguments similar to McCloskey, seeking to cast his outsider status in congressional politics as more valuable for Missourians than any experience on Capitol Hill.
鈥淭his is not the time to send the same folks back there who鈥檝e been part of the D.C. establishment, folks,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to pass term limits because folks get [to Washington], they think they鈥檙e going to change D.C. and then they become D.C., part of the establishment.鈥�
The attorney general railed against what he said was inaction from other politicians, while he has
鈥淚 am the one that鈥檚 pushing back. I am the one taking action,鈥� Schmitt said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not talking about holding hearings. I鈥檓 talking about taking Biden to court.鈥�
It鈥檚 this aspect to Schmitt鈥檚 candidacy that excites some Missouri residents
鈥淗e鈥檚 stood up, he鈥檚 fought for Missouri and is continuing to fight,鈥� said Neosho resident David Osborn.
Others expressed similar sentiments.
鈥淚 believe the attorney general is a leading candidate because of his ability to go in and argue the direct points against the Biden administration and some of the ideas they have,鈥� said Eddie Brown, who traveled to the event from Jefferson City.
Brown added he was open to the other candidates if they could clearly articulate how they would help every day Missourians.
鈥淥ur citizens need help right now,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got problems with inflation right now. People are going to suffer because of that. We need a Senate candidate that is going to go in and help turn that around.鈥�
After the forum, Brown said he was impressed by Hartzler鈥檚 comments but they weren鈥檛 enough to pull his support from Schmitt.
Eric Schmid covers the Metro East for 漏 2024 外网天堂 as part of the journalism grant program: , an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.
