This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Feb. 3, 2011 - As Sen. Claire McCaskill continues to deny accusations from anonymous sources and Republicans that she really didn't want a presidential convention in St. Louis, she can take heart that -- for the moment -- that she has far more campaign bucks than her potential rivals.
The latest federal campaign reports, filed earlier this week, show the senator ending 2010 with $905,219 in the bank. While not huge by national political measures, that showing is strong compared to most Missouri Republicans who've announced for her job -- or are considering the idea.
Financial figures for former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, the first to announce a bid, have yet to be reported by the Federal Election Commission. But St. Louis lawyer Ed Martin, who declared his candidacy this week, reports that his unsuccessful 3rd District bid for Congress last fall left him almost $45,000 in the red.
The two incumbent U.S. House members who are generating lots of talk -- Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, and Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau -- reported anemic warchests as of Dec. 31 of $29,962 for Graves (with a debt of $21,226) and $7,635 for Emerson.
With strong fundraising, such fiscal numbers can be improved swiftly. Still, McCaskill's early bump in bucks could help her to persuade potential donors to kick in more as well. (And unlike candidates seeking state and local offices, those running for Congress must comply with federal donation limits.)
At the moment, though, McCaskill's public comments to reporters this week -- including virtually every St. Louis radio station -- have generally been aimed at refuting a New York Times report on Tuesday. The story, quoting anonymous sources, alleged that the senator privately lobbied the White House not to choose St. Louis for the 2012 presidential convention.
The top spokesman for the Democratic National Committee denied that allegation in an interview Tuesday with the Beacon, calling McCaskill a "one-man Chamber of Commerce'' lobbying for St. Louis.
But that hasn't stopped Republicans from jumping on the report, alleging that McCaskill was saying pro-St. Louis comments in publics while disparaging the city in private. Said Martin: "If Senator McCaskill actually did what the New York Times is reporting, she has cynically betrayed Missourians and chosen her own interests over her constituents'."
McCaskill's strongest defense arguably was a Tweet she posted late Tuesday: "Of course I wanted DNC for St Louis. It would have brought $, organization, and face it, not getting it sure isn't gonna stop political attacks."
On her latter point, all sides appear to agree. The attacks continue.
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Meanwhile, other area members of Congress also posted some interesting bank account tallies this week.
U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, reported -- by far -- the most in the bank, with $532,124 as of Dec. 31.
U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., D-St. Louis, reported $243,378. U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis -- who barely survived Martin's challenge -- reported only $5,014 left in his coffers.
Elsewhere in the state, new U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, reported $22,354 in the bank, with a debt of $163,406 remaining after her successful ouster of veteran Democrat Ike Skelton of Lexington (who reported no debts and a small surplus of $17,423.)
New U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, reported a bank account of $29,403, while U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, reported $367,743 in the bank -- and a continued debt (from his first bid in 2008) of $1.29 million.
New U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., reported $156,242 in the bank -- and a debt of $431,164 remaining from his successful battle in November against Democrat Robin Carnahan. (She reported $80,933 in the bank as of Dec. 31, with a debt of $81,231.)
Those latest reports, by the way, show that Blunt spent $12.06 million, compared to Carnahan's $10.3 million, in last year's marquee Missouri contest.
