Down goes Greitens
At former Gov. Eric Greitens’ election night party Tuesday, as the results started to trickle in and things were looking bad for Greitens in the battle of the Erics, his campaign was attempting the spin the results the way they had spun the polls leading up to the election.
There was a hidden Greitens’ vote, they said. Police officers and firefighters weren’t being as vocal because they were worried they’d lose their jobs, but they wouldn’t be silent at the ballot box. Just wait ‘til the results start coming in from the “Bootheel.”
Well, those silent voters didn’t get the kiss from Prince Eric in time to get their voice back from Ursula and head to the polls.
Greitens did, actually, win the “Bootheel.” He pulled 41% of the vote in Dunklin County, 41% of the vote in New Madrid County and 43% of the vote in Pemiscot County. They were the only three counties he won out of the state’s 114. U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who came in second, won about 20 counties. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the rest, including St. Louis County, where he won 59% of the vote compared to Greitens’ 15%.
So what went wrong for Greitens? Well, a lot.
I’ve written several times about the $8 million that went into attacking Greitens by highlighting allegations that he abused his wife and children, which were repeatedly broadcast on TV (at a Schmitt rally Monday night, the ad was playing on TV right before Schmitt called Greitens a predator who quit on Missouri in his stump speech). They also spent money on text messages and another PAC came in with a radio ad about the allegations that Greitens sexually abused a woman with whom he had an affair.
The outside money meant voters were well aware of the allegations that had been made against Greitens heading into Election Day.
Meanwhile, instead of really splitting the vote, people began to coalesce around Schmitt. Poll after poll toward the end of the race showed him leading, which in turn reinforced the idea that he would be the eventual winner. His best result in a poll leading up to election day was about 34% of the vote. He ended up with about 45%.
Perhaps the last straw was former President Donald Trump’s hedged endorsement in the race. Instead of endorsing Greitens outright, potentially moving voters into his column, Trump gave the nod to both Erics. It effectively negated the impact of his endorsement in the race, while still allowing the former president to claim credit if one of the Erics won (which he did).
Despite the result, this probably isn’t the last you’ll see of Eric Greitens. In his speech on election night, Greitens said sometimes God’s plan requires patience. That sounds a lot like someone who plans to run for office again.
More from Missouri
Schmitt is heavily favored to win the U.S. Senate race in Missouri. But the Kansas vote to reject an amendment eliminating the right to an abortion in the state breathed some life into Democrats in conservative states, who hope abortion rights will help galvanize their base enough to give them a shot to win in November.
Here are headlines from across the state:
Will abortion rights give Dems a shot at the Senate seat in Missouri? Daniel Desrochers and Kacen Bayless
Missouri Democrats are hopeful that Kansas vote offers a guide to restoring abortion rights, Kacen Bayless
Schmitt trumps Greitens, will face Busch Valentine, Daniel Desrochers, Jonathan Shorman and Kacen Bayless
Missouri’s Josh Hawley was lone senator to vote against Finland, Sweden NATO membership, Kacen Bayless
Donald Trump endorses ‘ERIC’ in MO Senate race, Daniel Desrochers and Jonathan Shorman
And across Kansas
The nation focused its attention on Kansas this week, after voters roundly rejected the constitutional amendment eliminating the right to an abortion in the state in a move that will take an historic place in Kansas’ long battle over abortion rights. Here’s a look at how it happened.
Abortion rights advocates won big in Kansas. How did they do it?, Katie Bernard and Jonathan Shorman
Kansas’ vote for abortion rights sends ripples nationwide, Jonathan Shorman and Katie Bernard
What does Kansas’ vote for abortion rights mean for November?, Katie Bernard and Daniel Desrochers
Huelskamp hangs up when asked about Kansas abortion texts, Matthew Kelly and Jonathan Shorman
How a Catholic Kansas doctor suddenly became a fierce, vocal abortion rights advocate, Lisa Gutierrez
The latest from Kansas City
In Kansas City …
Lucas says Kansas abortion vote to have ‘huge repercussions’ for country, Robert A. Cronkleton
KC school district wanted to raise teacher pay. So voters approved a tax hike, Sarah Ritter
Proposed Westside entertainment district — with Ferris wheel — one step closer in KC, Anna Spoerre
Have a news tip? Send it along to ddesrochers@kcstar.com
Odds and ends
McConnell and Schmitt
As was expected, a political action committee associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell put in the bulk of the $8 million used to attack Greitens in the Senate campaign, according to Politico (the PAC has not had to file its report for July yet).
While that means McConnell played a role in helping Schmitt win his race in Missouri, it doesn’t mean Schmitt is rushing to thank him.
In an interview with Dana Loesch on Wednesday after winning, Schmitt was asked if McConnell called to congratulate him. He said no and once again called for “new leadership” in the U.S. Senate.
It was a position he took a week before the election, distancing himself from the politically unpopular McConnell as he was attempting to get former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Trump, who dislikes McConnell, has called on U.S. Senate candidates he supports to pledge to remove him as Republican leader.
Of course, calling for new leadership is not the same as saying he won’t cast a vote for McConnell in a leadership election. Particularly if no one challenges him.
Roy Blunt on monkeypox
On Tuesday, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt sent a letter to Xavier Beccera, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, criticizing the Biden administration’s response to the burgeoning monkeypox epidemic in the United States.
Blunt’s letter took issue with the fact that the administration had presented funding estimates for handling the outbreak to Democrats — saying they would need as much as $7 billion — but had not done the same for Republicans.
“As far as I can tell, the administration has not shared this funding estimate with Republicans, even after my appropriations staff have asked the Department numerous times for this information, implying the administration and Democrats plan to tackle this outbreak in a partisan fashion,” Blunt said. “A partisan response is not productive.”
On Wednesday, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency.
Blunt is not the only one critical of the Biden administration’s response. There have been around 6,617 cases of monkeypox across the country, according to the CDC, and the vast majority (more than 95%) of them have occurred among gay and bisexual men. In Missouri there have been 12 reported cases and in Kansas there has been just one.
But early in the pandemic — when it’s arguably most important — it’s been very difficult for those who are most at risk to be able to get a vaccine, treatment and information about the virus. The Biden administration has said it has made 1.1 million vaccine doses available but in the cities where cases are the highest, they’re still hard to come by.
I live in D.C., one of the hard hit cities. I’ve been vaccinated, but the city canceled my appointment for a second dose later this month because of lack of supply. Others who come down with the disease (which is not deadly but leaves painful sores that take 2-4 weeks to clear up) have reported that it’s difficult to get treatment.
Natalie Wallington wrote a good explainer about what people in Kansas City need to know.
Well ERIC won, didn’t he
Almost immediately after former President Donald Trump issued his endorsement of “ERIC” earlier this week, Kimberly Guilfoyle jumped to claim the endorsement for Eric Greitens (never mind that pesky other Eric in the race).
“Eric Greitens is the MAGA candidate!” she wrote on Twitter, with a picture of Trump and Greitens that said Greitens had earned the endorsement.
Guilfoyle, a former Fox News contributor and the fiancee of Donald Trump Jr., was employed by the Greitens campaign. Sources said she was heavily pushing Trump to endorse Greitens after he put out a post on Truth Social saying he’d weigh in on the race.
Then, on Thursday, she shared a Breitbart article that said Trump was “perfect” on his picks in Missouri, saying the candidates he endorsed won their races. An Eric did win the Missouri U.S. Senate race, after all.
Eric Greitens who?
Happy Friday
Read John Updike on Ted Williams. I’m exhausted, so this weekend I’m recommending a nap. I hear they’re all the rage among the toddler set. And here’s Joni Mitchell.
Enjoy your weekend.
Looking for more?
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This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 10:59 PM.
