TEA TIME RETURNTH
"Interesting . . . but means nothing""PROBABLY" in race until the end 7th District GOP Congressional candidate Darrell Moore said late Friday that a new poll showing him ahead in the primary race to replace Roy Blunt was encouraging, interesting and basically meaningless. "This poll" [...] 
IKE . . . TO THE RIGHT House Armed Services Committee chair Ike Skelton broke with the Obama administration on trying the men accused of plotting terrorist attacks in U.S. criminal courts. "As a former prosecutor, I am not yet convinced that the right decision was" [...] 
King political prognosticator Charlie Cook has switched his ranking for Missouri's 4th Congressional District race from "a likely Democratic seat" to "a lean Democratic seat" in 2010. The move is minor, and still favors Rep. Ike Skelton. But it's also significant for Republicans who believe [...] 
7th District Congressional candidate Billy Long signed a pledge with FreedomWorks to not support earmarking if elected to the U.S. House next year."So many politicians have a habit of breaking their word, telling their constituents one thing while doing another. They know that nobody" [...] 
Springfield physician and school board member Michael Hoeman will formally announce his candidacy for State Senate Monday, setting up a likely general election battle with Republican Rep. Bob Dixon. District #30 incumbent Norma Champion is vacating her seat in 2010 due to term limits. Hoeman, a [...] 
Longshot U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Purgason said he's encouraged by a new Public Policy Polling survey that shows his support in double-digits and noted that Congressman Roy Blunt's high unfavorable numbers in the Ozarks exemplify the problems of the Republican Party's frontrunner. The poll, conducted [...] 
"Dog & Pony Show"SLAMS DEAL AS 'UNWISE and PREMATURE" Sen. Scott Rupp blasted Gov. Jay Nixon's plan to freeze tuition at colleges and universities as a "dog and pony show" that's already enshrined in state law. "It does nothing but re-affirm the tuition cap the' [...] 
"In some ways, George Bush's lead is as thin as November ice."--Dan Rather on Election Night 2004Take the relentless ads by the League of Conservation Voters targeting Roy Blunt and the cadence of criticism building against Robin Carnahan for her silence on specifics . . [...] 
Sen. Kit Bond and Congressman Roy Blunt met in Washington, D.C. Tuesday with dozens of World War II veterans taking part in the inaugural "Ozarks Honor Flight."
A campaign consultant with ties to the southeastern U.S. has signed on to advise the 7th District Congressional campaign of Michael Wardell.
Down to 9.3%SIGN OF STABILITY A BRIGHT SPOT FOR NIXON Missouri's unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point to 9.3 percent in October, keeping the Show-Me State's jobless rate about one full point below the national average. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent last [...] 
"Appalled by Schweich's Ignorant Request"
NIXON'S WEEK 44 GRADE: A -
Tracking the federal economic stimulus package is more difficult than it sounds -- even on the government's slick website, Recovery.gov.
Sen. Gary Nodler will relinquish his Appropriations Committee chairmanship Friday, according to a source with ties to State Senate staffing. The decision has been expected for months, but Nodler has not given many hints on when he'd step down. He's been the Senate budget chair [...] 
A TRUCE? Two months after she officially pulled the plug on a potential bid for U.S. Senate, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman met with Roy Blunt in Springfield Wednesday, a GOP source tells The Notebook. Blunt's campaign confirmed the tip tonight. "He wanted to'" [...] 
"He awakens the idealist in me" Democratic strategist Paul Begala wrote Wednesday that he tried to talk Tommy Sowers out of a run for Congress against Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. "The district, I said, is too Republican, and the election cycle too challenging. Tommy would" [...] 
Congressman Ike Skelton is balking at an immediate investigation by Congress into the shooting rampage at Ft. Hood until investigations by the Army and FBI progress. "It is important that we get to the bottom of this incident, but we must be careful to proceed" [...] 
One-on-OneThe Notebook sits down with Congressman & U.S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt to talk about attack ads, PAC money, cap and trade, healthcare and Robin Carnahan. DEVELOPING . . . ON KY3 NEWS TONIGHT
'LIKE HAVING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT'
A statewide group is trying to head off a tax currently collected in 37 states -- but NOT Missouri.
Two former U.S. Senators helped host a fundraiser in New York City Monday night for 8th District Democratic Congressional candidate Tommy Sowers.
TAP DANCINGDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan declined stating her position on the House healthcare bill, telling the Associated Press she is both excited and concerned about the legislation.According to the wire service, Carnahan says she has concerns about whether the bill does enough [...] 
TWEETER KINDERThe Lieutenant Governor attempts to break news on TWITTER regarding a potential hostage situation in Jefferson City, but later deletes a bunch of his posts on what turned out to be a misunderstanding."Sharpshooters on roof of Jefferson bldg. Hostage situation unfolding in Governor Office bldg." [...] Gov. Jay Nixon made no predictions about when Missouri's unemployment rate would drop and said it was "very, very difficult" to determine when the state would climb out of a recession.
Nixon also made the case that Missouri has been able to manage the recession better than other states and' [...]
The Ky3 Political Notebook has learned that Sarah Palin will do a book signing at Borders in Springfield before she speaks at College of the Ozarks on December 2nd. Palin is scheduled to speak on "patriotism, citizenship and civic engagement" at College of the Ozarks [...] 
Sen. Claire McCaskill doesn't believe a House amendment in the healthcare bill that restricts a woman's right to access or pay for abortion will bring down the legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will be in Springfield Monday to do a signing for his new book.
NIXON'S WEEK 43 GRADE: B
"This is history"
This is the seventh installment of The Notebook's monthly survey of the 7th Congressional District field and each candidate's chances of winning the GOP nomination in 2010.
Congressman Ike Skelton will appear on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday. Other guests on FACE include: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Republican political consultant Ed Rollins. Get the entire Sunday Morning Show line-up HERE.***Meanwhile: On' [...] 
7th District Republican Congressional candidate Michael Wardell called Sen. Gary Nodler's comments about the influence of lobbyists on campaigns "astounding" and said it exemplifies "so many of our problems."On Thursday, while explaining his endorsement from Washington, D.C. lobbyist Gregg Hartley, Nodler told The Notebook that lobbyists [...] 
Missouri Republicans hopped all over the new unemployment rate Friday, which hit double-digits for the first time in 26 years. GOPers said the 10.2 percent jobless number proved that the Obama administration's massive economic stimulus package failed to accomplish its intended goals, eight months after [...] 
Congressman Roy Blunt seized on media reports that Goldman Sachs received H1N1 vaccines before some hospitals and blamed the Obama administration for its failure to "manage distribution of this vaccine."
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder said at least one Missourian has been injured in the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas Thursday."Today, our nation mourns for those who have lost their lives in this senseless act of violence. At this hour, we know at least one Missourian, Keara" [...] 
"You can't be partly pregnant . . ."Gregg Hartley, who endorsed Sen. Gary Nodler for Congress Tuesday night, has sent an e-mail to 7th District Republicans, urging them to sign on to the campaign.
Sen. Claire McCaskill was one of just two Senators not present to vote on extending unemployment benefits. But her office said she still supported the measure and would've voted for it if she could've made the vote. The Senate voted almost unanimously to extend unemployment [...] 
Congressman Ike Skelton recently met with U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to discuss the unemployment rate in the 4th Congressional District. 
The national conservative group, Eagle Forum, is endorsing Vicky Hartlzer's 4th District Congressional campaign. HARTZLER: IT'S DAVID VS. GOLIATH "We proudly and enthusiastically support Vicky Hartzler as a champion of free enterprise and Missouri values. She is a rising star who can do so much'" [...] 
EXPLAINS EAGLEPICHER FUNDING & HITS GOODMAN"That line is Goodman propaganda . . ."Joplin State Senator Gary Nodler said there was never a specific appropriation for EaglePicher this past legislative session and accused his 7th District opponent Sen. Jack Goodman of opposing job creation when he voted [...] 
Missouri State University's political science department releases numbers on Greene County voters perception of the economy and if they believe Missouri is heading in the right or wrong direction. DEVELOPING . . . FOR Ky3 News @ 10
AFTER THE PARTY
HARTLEY ALSO REPRESENTS JOPLIN BUSINESS
McCaskill Abstains
Congressman Ike Skelton continued to push President Obama to embrace General Stanley McChrystal's counter insurgency strategy in Afghanistan and said the recent flawed election reinforced the need for reforms in the unstable country."Although the election in Afghanistan was deeply flawed and" [...]
"I want and need a change . . ." Missouri State University president Michael Nietzel is resigning. He won't depart until December 2010, but the announcement surprised the school's Board of Governors and faculty. It comes at a time when Missouri State is struggling with a [...] 
COUNTDOWN TO 2010 One year from today Missourians will chose its 45th U.S. Senator, voters in the Ozarks will select a new 7th District Congressman and a handful of incumbents will be tested to see whether they can survive the typical midterm storm. Both Democratic [...] 
NIXON'S WEEK 42 GRADE: C
FOR SUNDAY'S SPECIAL DECISION 2009 OZARKS TODAY
State Sen. Chuck Purgason is the latest Missouri Republican to back Doug Hoffman for Congress in the New York's 23rd District election Tuesday. A flock of national conservative figures have backed Hoffman in recent days as he builds momentum in a three-way rae that appears to [...] 
Roll Call's insider column Shop Talk reports that Republican consultant Jeff Roe of Axiom Strategies is advising candidates in almost every competitive or open-seat race in Missouri and neighboring Kansas.In Missouri, Roe is doing general consulting and direct mail for auctioneer Billy Long in the 7th [...] 
Congressman Jo Ann Emerson voted against a House Resolution recognizing the birth of Confucius in 551 B.C.
TOO CLOSE TO CALLLess than a week before Springfield's big decision on a police and fire pension tax, a new poll released exclusively to Ky3 News shows a closely divided contest.
TALENT ALSO QUESTIONS VACCINE TIMING"The federal" [...]
NIXON'S BUDGET PLAN reported Via Tweet
If it succeeds in this turbulent economic climate, no one person will be more responsible for passage of the 3/4-cent sales tax hike than Mayor Jim O'Neal, who has been tirelessly trying to reach the persuadable -- no matter how big or small the group.
Fourth District Congressional candidate Sen. Bill Stouffer will campaign in Lockwood and Stockton Wednesday. Stouffer will answer questions from constituents about his campaign against Congressman Ike Skelton. Stouffer must first win a Republican primary against multiple candidates, including former state representative Vicky Hartzler. His scheduled stops:
7th District Congressional candidate Billy Long is endorsing Doug Hoffman in the 23rd District election in New York. Long announced Tuesday on his campaign website he sent a contribution to Hoffman, who is running under the banner of the Conservative Party as an alternative to [...] 
A new report characterizes Missouri's criminal justice system as on the brink of collapse because of mounting caseloads that are overwhelming the state's public defender system.
Tom Carter, a key Republican player in the 7th Congressional district and a prolific fundraiser for Congressman Roy Blunt, has signed on to help Billy Long's U.S. House campaign, The Notebook has learned.
Republican candidate for Auditor Tom Schweich is heading to Germany to help NATO provide a training program on crime and corruption in Afghanistan. Team Schweich made the announcement Monday in an e-mail to supporters.
In a move that shows the critical importance of St. Louis to his campaign, Congressman Roy Blunt tapped former U.S. ambassador and Republican heavyweight Ann Wagner to chair his bid for U.S. Senate next year."Ann Wagner is the most effective and successful statewide Republican campaigner" [...] 
KEY MODERATE EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ABOUT PUBLIC PLAN
NIXON'S WEEK 41 GRADE: B -
