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SENATE REPORT '02 MISSOURI:  CARNAHAN PRAISES ASHCROFT

The following piece appeared in The Hotline on Thursday, December 13, 2001.  This article is from Vol. 10, No. 9 of The Hotline and is property of American Political Network, Inc.

Kansas City Star's Kraske writes that Sen. Jean Carnahan
(D) may "have millions in her campaign war chest," but DC
"handicappers" are calling the race between Carnahan and ex-Rep.
Jim Talent (R) a "tossup." The "closeness may surprise some,
given Carnahan's sympathetic status" as the widow of ex-Gov. Mel
Carnahan (D), but some analysts are pointing to a 10/01 GOP poll
"that showed the race deadlocked" at 43% "each among likely
voters." Cook Reports Jennifer Duffy said the poll shows that
"some voters apparently see Carnahan as an inexperienced
freshman lawmaker in a time of national turmoil." Duffy noted
that the "poll numbers of other incumbent" sens. got a boost
after 9/11, "but not Carnahan's."
 
One thing's for sure: The "tone of" the '02 race "should
differ dramatically from last year's John Ashcroft-Mel Carnahan
donnybrook." Talent and Jean Carnahan are 2 "low-key
personalities not known for aggressive campaigning." And
Carnahan, who voted agaisnt Ashcroft's nomination for AG because
she said he was too "divisive," now praises him. Carnahan: "At
the time I felt that way. Right now we're in a totally different
circumstance. we're in a war... I think weneed to be supportive
of the decisions he's making."
 
Missouri Univ. poly-sci prof. Rick Hardy: "The question is
always, 'Who is Jim Talent really running against?' He's running
against Mrs. Carnahan and the ghost of Mel Carnahan. Those are
factors that make it difficult." Yet some insist the "sympathy
factor is fading." St. Louis Univ. poly-sci prof. Ken Warren:
The sympathy factor has certainly diminished. That doesn't mean
she doesn't still carry on the Carnahan name and legacy and the
martyred status of her husband."
 
Carnahan is a good fundraiser, and during her first 6
months "in office, she traveled coast-to-coast to raise a
robust" $2.3M. Talent has a "reputation as fundraising wizard
with something of a doddering campaign style." He has relied "on
a bevy of GOP stars" such as VP counselor Mary Matalin and Labor
Sec. Elaine Chao, for help. Talent won't sayhow much he's
raised, but has announced a $10M "goal for the campaign"
(12/13).

PROMISES OF MEMORIALIZING MEL NOT KEPT
AP's Stange reports that back in 2/01 "at least" 2 St.
Louis mayoral candidates promised to name a downtown courthouse"
after the late Mel Carnahan. Incumbent Mayor Clarence Harmon
planned a 4/1 "dedication ceremony for the old federal
courthouse. Challenger Francis Slay said he planned to push for
the same thing as" pres of the Board of Aldermen. Slay won the
race, but "the ceremony never took place" and neither "did the
name change." What happened? Slay spokesperson Ed Rhode: "Good
question. I know whenever we reference it, we reference it as
the Mel Carnahan courts building. But I don't know if there ever
was a ceremony or anything. ... We talk about it like it's the
Mel Carnahan building." Rhode said he's "unaware of plans for an
official ceremony anytime soon" (12/12).

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