GOP Primary

The Shrinking GOP Field -- And What It Means For The 2012 Election

Benjy Sarlin | March 7, 2011, 9:13AM

Mitt Romney

Weeks away from the first debates of the Republican presidential primary and the pool of candidates is uncertain and getting smaller, leaving open the possibility of a much tinier and less predictable field than was widely expected.

It's more than just hesitance among potential contenders to form an exploratory committee or formally announce a campaign. Few, if any, observers doubt Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty will hop in the race, for example. But the two potential candidates with arguably the largest group of core supporters, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, are sending mixed signals about a possible run, with major implications for the rest of the field.

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MO-SEN

Report: Former GOP Sen. Talent Won't Seek Rematch With Dem McCaskill

Eric Kleefeld | January 25, 2011, 5:23PM

Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO), who had been eyeing a possible comeback bid in 2012 for the Senate seat he held until his defeat in 2006, is now reportedly out of the race after all. Instead, he'll be sticking with the private sector -- and backing Mitt Romney for president.

Had he run, Talent would have faced a primary race against former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

Politico reports:

Talent's decision against a 2012 campaign was telegraphed in recent weeks with his lack of activity in the state an an overseas trip with almost-certain presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

...

Talent backers said the former senator just did not have the stomach for what would have been a contentious primary and bruising general election at a time when he was content in the lucrative private sector and serving in an advisory role to a likely presidential candidate.

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MO-SEN

PPP Poll: Dem Sen. McCaskill Faces Tough Race In 2012

Eric Kleefeld | December 1, 2010, 4:00PM

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

A new survey of Missouri from Public Policy Polling (D) shows a close race in 2012 for Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

McCaskill was tested against three potential Republican nominees, with all trial heats ending up within the margin of error: Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder leads McCaskill 46%-44%; McCaskill edges former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who just declared her candidacy today, by 45%-44%; and former Sen. Jim Talent, who lost to McCaskill in the Democratic wave year of 2006, leads her 47%-45.

The survey of registered voters has a ±4.3% margin of error.

A key number here is that President Obama's approval rating in this perennial swing state is currently at just 43%, with 52% disapproval. McCaskill's approval rating as a senator is also only 43%, with disapproval at 44%.

MO-SEN

GOPer Steelman Launches Campaign Against Dem Sen. McCaskill In Missouri

Eric Kleefeld | December 1, 2010, 1:07PM

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Senate candidate Sarah Steelman (R-MO).

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who first picked up her seat for the Democrats in 2006, now has her first official challenger for 2012, with former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman announcing her run.

Steelman was previously elected Treasurer in 2004, then lost the 2008 Republican primary for governor, in which the party establishment had supported her opponent. She has reportedly been encouraged to run by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Steelman sounded some Tea Party-style notes in her announcement, saying in part that her campaign is about "stopping the Washington elites from making America more like a European country instead of recognizing that people still flock to America because they know they can build a better life for their families."

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