Republicans Giving Up on Jim Talent? (MO-SEN)

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

A poster on Daily Kos says the Columbia, Missouri NPR station has reported that the RNC is pulling out of the Missouri Senate race:

I can't find anything online yet, but the local NPR station in Columbia is reporting that they have heard from Larry Hughes of Mason-Dixon Polling, doing political polling for the GOP, that the RNC has decided to pull resources out of Missouri because the trend lines show that Talent cannot win. Resources are supposed to now be going to VA and TN.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/24/174112/20

I hope this is true. Recent polls have shown McCaskill opening up a small lead.

[OzarkDem]

1. Excellent news!

What's left for them to focus on? Tennessee?

[SharonAnn]

2. I just saw an ungly anti-Ford ad here. First time I've seen it.

About how he voted for public funding of abortions twice. Want either birth-control or morning after pills for our students in school.

Yucky ad. Paid for by RNC.

[LSparkle]

3. Check out Tweety's interview with him (on repeat)

He talks about the "positives" that have come out of deposing Saddam: He's not pursuing a weapons program, he's not provoking others in the neighborhood (no, now we have IRAN sabre-rattling!), I can't remember the others but it was almost laughable how he was "grasping at straws" to come up with "good news" because of our entrenchment in Iraq.

[FightingIrish]

4. I just gave to the DSSC

I want Mr. Macaca gone so bad. He typifies the very worst of the Republican Party. With people like him gone, we could have a functioning democracy again.

http://www.dscc.org/clark

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. A couple weeks ago, Talent canceled appearances he had scheduled

in KC in the African American community. I wondered then if he was starting to scale back his campaign.

This is great news!

[kentuck]

6. That means they are giving up the Senate??

I don't think so. The MO race is necessary for the Repubs to maintain control of the Senate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. He has been fighting for months now but is not doing as well as an

incumbent should be doing. McCaskill has pulled ahead - only by a few points but still aheasd.

And she smoked him in the debates.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the repukes have indeed pulled out of this race.

[Zynx]

7. I very much doubt it.

That would essentially resign them to a 50-50 Senate at best.

[InsultComicDog]

15. You're assuming

they don't have Lieberman in their pocket

[OzarkDem]

8. Sign of desperation

The negative ads can only preserve their wretched base, they certainly won't sway swing or independent voters.

[Joe for Clark]

10. That makes good sense for the gop.

I have heard similar things.

I do think, personally, the fight is heading for Virginia. I always did.

If you do believe that polls significantly understate the likely voter that actually turns out on Nov 7 - If you believe angry voters turn out and less than angry voters tend to stay home -
it will probably be true that anyone running within the margin of error is going to trend democrat.

So in truth, they only have a shot at Virginia - and not a good one, either - IMO.

Joe

[sendero]

That would be wonderful..

... McCaskill is very impressive, I think she'll make a very good senator!

[sendero]

11. That would be wonderful..

... McCaskill is very impressive, I think she'll make a very good senator!

[Neecy]

12. y'know....

Talent was on Hardball an hour or so ago, and the first thing that struck me was the sad, sad, sad look on his face when the camera first focused on him. He looked like a little kid who'd just lost his dog - hardly the face of a confident candidate.

Maybe he'd just heard his funding was being pulled - if nothing else, he always looks cocky and arrogant and something has definitely changed.

[roamer65]

13. The independent vote is always the last to solidify

and from what I'm seeing on the recent polls, they're definitely heading in the Democratic direction. If the Rethugs do not fix the election, I think we've got the House and at least a 50-50 Senate. I expect the GOP to focus on VA and TN to try to stop an outright Democratic Senate majority. Personally, I think we're gonna get 51. Behold the power of Howard Dean's 50 state strategy!!!

[Bluestar]

14. What's with the old shell game and Repug money?

I thought they were just awash in cash and could outspend us anywhere, anytime. All I see is that they are robbing Peter to pay Paul. This is a fairly close race. I can't believe they are pulling their funds. Could it be another lie? Oh no, they wouldn't lie about how much money they have would they? I heard last week that the big money is hedging their bets and giving to the Dems to cover their butts when we take back Congress.

[saltpoint]

16. If this report bears out, what a fine thing for people in Missouri that

they will be represented in the Senate by a capable soul like Claire McCaskill instead of that nitwit rubber-stamp Jim Talent.

And again, if the head Thugs have left Jim for dead, that gives the blue team a boost on recapturing the Senate.

The bluer the better.