Trump, Parson’s friend in rural Missouri TV ads, is left out of Kansas City versions
A political action committee supporting Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has been running TV ads across the state in recent weeks touting his conservative credentials.
But for viewers in Kansas City, the message won’t include the Republican governor’s fondness for President Donald Trump.
John Hancock, chairman of the group bankrolling the statewide ad campaign — Uniting Missouri PAC — said leaving Trump out of ads in urban areas shouldn’t be taken as the governor hiding his support for the president from voters in more liberal-leaning parts of the state.
It’s just that “the president polls off the charts in outstate Missouri,” Hancock said. “So it’s smart to reference him there.”
In rural Missouri, an ad focusing on the governor’s economic record says Parson signed “worked closely with President Trump to create 40,000 new jobs.”
In Kansas City, a nearly identical spot omits the phrase “he’s worked closely with President Trump.”
In rural Missouri, the pro-Parson PAC has been running ads focused on illegal immigration that include footage of Trump at the border wall. It states that “Gov. Parson agrees with President Trump.”
In Kansas City, the illegal immigration ad isn’t airing.
Instead, Kansas City voters see a spot focused on Parson’s law enforcement background, including his 12 years as Polk County sheriff. It says Parson is “standing up for victims, investing in better mental health services and cracking down on violent crime and drugs.”
There is no mention of the president.
“We run different ads in different markets routinely,” Hancock said, later adding: “The president has endorsed the governor. We certainly aren’t keeping that a secret.”
Parson is running for a full term as governor after taking over the job in June 2018 following the resignation of former Gov. Eric Greitens.
He is expecting to take on Democratic state Auditor Nicole Galloway this fall.
Greitens has suddenly reemerged on the political scene, doing a parade of interviews with sympathetic reporters and conservative radio hosts in the wake of the state ethics commission fining him $178,000 for campaign finance violations.
The interviews sparked speculation that Greitens might attempt a comeback by challenging Parson in the GOP primary. The Uniting Missouri ad buy was viewed by political insiders as a possible attempt by Parson’s supporters to get out in front of any potential Greitens challenge.
