A debate between Missouri Senate candidates took place on Meet The Press Sunday. The closely-watched and highly contested race may turn out to be one of the closest races this midterm election.
Incumbent Jim Talent (R) faced off with current state auditor Claire McCaskill (D) with host Tim Russert.
Watch the video:
Excerpted from the transcript:
MR. RUSSERT: Senator Talent, President Bush has been to Missouri at least four times in this campaign, raising money for you. And he has given a series of comments about you, which we have put together. Let's just watch.
(Videotape, June 28, 2006):
PRES. BUSH: Thanks for supporting Jim Talent. One thing about old Jim Talent, he understands what I understand.
Talent and I don't believe...
Jim and I believe...
I am proud to have worked with Jim Talent.
I am proud to be standing side by side with Jim Talent.
(End of videotape)
MR. RUSSERT: In your three years in the Senate, you have voted with the president 94 percent of the time. Why shouldn't voters in Missouri say "Jim Talent is a rubber stamp for George W. Bush. If I disagree with George W. Bush, goodbye, Talent"?
SEN. TALENT: Well, with surveys, it all depends on the issues you look at, Tim. I mean, if you survey immigration, if you survey farm policy, if you survey highway and transportation infrastructure funding, you'll find the president and I disagreed. I mean, there are surveys that show I'm one of the most independent Republicans. It all depends on...
MR. RUSSERT: Well, the Congressional Quarterly says you voted with him 94 percent of the time.
SEN. TALENT: I think it was the National Journal that said I was, like, one of the most independent Republicans. Yeah, and why don't they ever say in those surveys that the president agreed with me a certain percentage of the time? I mean, I've been in public life a lot longer when he has. When I went into Congress, I think he was still running the Texas Rangers. Now, he's come a little bit further, I guess, than I have since then. The point is, I have a set of views, a set of things I want to do to make the system work for Missouri. Let me take just 60 seconds, because the election's really about the state auditor and me...
Read the entire transcript here.