Claire McCaskill Fights Back Against Attack Ads In Missouri Senate Race

Incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is on the defensive after being hit by an onslaught of negative ads from conservative groups and her Republican challengers. “I feel like an underdog,” McCaskill told the Kansas City Star in an interview Sunday. "But I do I know my state pretty well."

The senator's connection to President Barack Obama -- the two are close friends, and she was an early supporter of his -- could hurt her in the swing state. Republicans are targeting McCaskill's votes in favor of the president's health care reform bill and economic stimulus, and her support of the Obama administration's contraception mandate.

McCaskill has responded with two radio spots of her own. One ad positions her toward the middle on abortion and contraception. "Claire McCaskill is fighting to prevent abortion. … No government can tell a woman whether she can use birth control," the ad states. It also combats the image that she is too close to the president, saying "She stood up to the Obama administration to stop regulations that would cost Missouri jobs."

The other ad criticizes negative campaign tactics, stating, "We're better than this. Every election year it's the same: lies and extortions paid for by out of towners. ... No one believes what they're saying about Claire McCaskill."

Missouri's tossup senate contest is one of a handful of races that will be crucial in determining which party gains a majority in the upper chamber.

Three GOP candidates are hoping to challenge McCaskill in November: former State Treasurer Sarah Steeman, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), and businessman Jon Brunner.

10 more election stories from beyond the presidential field:

Lugar Goes Negative, Ad Calls Mourdock 'Desperate' [TPM]

Scott Brown Collects Twice The Signatures Needed For Mass. Ballot [Boston Globe]

Barbara Boxer Makes Democratic Primary Endorsement After Controversial Mailer [Politico]

Michele Bachmann Thrown Into New District By Redistricting [Rochester Post-Bulletin]

David Dewhurst Gaining On Ted Cruz [Texas Tribune]

All Eyes On Albuquerque In Race For Open Seat [Roll Call]

DCCC Creates Website Tracking Candidate's Many Scandals [DCCC]

Why Hoekstra Hearts Cain's '9-9-9' Plan [National Journal]

Poll Shows Jon Bruning Close To 50 Percent [Politico]

Ohio Newspaper Half-Heartedly Endorses Josh Mandel [The Hill]

Earlier on HuffPost:

 

 

Comments

[Aurical]

10:29 PM on 02/22/2012

You have my support and my vote Claire.

[Daisy Houghtailing]

02:16 PM on 02/22/2012

"When the going gets tough the tough" run like a scared cat. If I were in your state and after hearing your 2 radio ads, I would not vote for you either. You ARE loyal to one person and one person only, the person who distanced herself from her "friend" to win an election. You couldn't justify your friendship in a more intelligent way. Oh NO, you followed your opponent down that shameful avenue called DIRTY POLITICS & HOW TO USE AND LOSE A FRIEND. You deserve what you get!

[Timothy Ilg]

10:32 AM on 02/22/2012

I don't believe I've ever voted for an incumbent. Other than a judge. Washington had it right, two terms then out. They also don't need all those government benefits for life. Just ridiculous.

[Glenda Sitnek]

10:16 AM on 02/22/2012

It is rather odd that the ads attack Claire but support no one. She is the best Senator we've had here in MO for a very long time. When compared to Kit Bond or Roy Blunt, she is outstanding. The 3 running for her job are not so great although Steelman had the chance to be a moderate Rep she blew it and sided with the GOP on the current birth control issue. Lots of shadows around Akins, suspicious ones and Bruner is just another rich guy trying to get in politics. I'll vote for Claire again, even though some of her stands bothered me a bit, I could understand her reasoning. She never (or her staff) fails to answer my emails.

[rdk70816]

09:24 AM on 02/22/2012

Underdog or just dog?

[RVLady]

08:23 AM on 02/22/2012

What do you expect from a state full of Churches and Chinese restaurants.

[Michaela19801]

08:19 AM on 02/22/2012

She is a blue dog Dem.

I don't see how a true liberal would ever be elected in Missouri. So, Dems you accept a blue dog or you give up the seat to the GOP.

[lisaman]

08:55 AM on 02/22/2012

You are so right, no way does a true liberal ever get elected here. She won last time because of the larger city votes like St. Louis, which is where I live. It was down to the wire too, she did not win by much. I will once again vote for her even though I wish she worked harder for the things I care about.

Around here right now the only ads I hear are ones against McCaskill. Radio and TV.

[Michaela19801]

09:14 AM on 02/22/2012

What would you like her to work on ? Do you ever contact her and tell her ?

I think she is a good Senator but I don't live in Missouri, so not sure what specific issues that state cares about.

[rdk70816]

09:25 AM on 02/22/2012

It is much better to give up the seat to the GOP.

[Michaela19801]

09:42 AM on 02/22/2012

I disagree.

[Periwinkle]

07:45 AM on 02/22/2012

One problem for her is she's very close to the center of the "nut basket" of the United States.

[themiddleistheproblem]

07:43 AM on 02/22/2012

You are the underdog Claire. Your only job has been to water down legislation to the point of ineffectiveness. You are part of the reason themiddleistheproblem.

[lisaman]

08:58 AM on 02/22/2012

Being a liberal democrat from the state of Missouri can be tough. We don't have much choice when it comes to candidates like Claire. If we don't support her, the alternative is so much worse. I often tell my husband we need to move to a blue state but we do at least live in a blue city.

[themiddleistheproblem]

10:47 AM on 02/22/2012

She raked the president across the coals before she would vote for the healthcare law. People like her and Evan Bayh are the reason the law was so unpopular and they are in the pockets of insurance companies. I agree the prospects on the republican side are scarey but I won't lose any sleep if she loses because any legislation put foward by dems will be watered down so as to make them ineffective anyway.

[sak]

04:13 AM on 02/22/2012

Senator McCaskill, we as women are underdogs these days. We are being attacked on all fronts. The Catholic church and the large corporations along with billionaires have decided to put us in our place. I must tell you that at our local democratic club meeting last night the crowd was astonishing. We got together to hear some local candidates for office and two people running for the House of Representatives. Never in the last ten years, according to our chapter president, has he seen this many people gather for a meeting, not even for the Christmas parties! What does that tell me? Democrats are very riled up and that is all good.

[lisaman]

08:59 AM on 02/22/2012

Thank you sak, you made my day.

F/F

[beerbagger]

03:19 AM on 02/22/2012

Silly thing about politicians is that they think it's all about them... or the party.

[hammhome]

02:36 AM on 02/22/2012

she's a gonner, she's been a gonner since she voted for Obamacare......She knows it, she's putting the best face on it, but she will loose her seat because she voted for Obamacare.

[sak]

04:14 AM on 02/22/2012

In your dreams...

[bobbyO]

07:29 AM on 02/22/2012

I don't get it what part of the health care bill don't you like? Would you like to go back to pre existencing conditions, having children stay on family health plan until 26, or would you like the seniors to have to give back the money they saved by closing the doughnut hole? What part are you willing to give up? Or are you on Medicare a gov run health plan and you don't care about everyone else.

[GaryRa]

01:57 AM on 02/22/2012

Claire, you have my vote.

[icon22]

01:45 AM on 02/22/2012

The greatest gift president Obama can give this woman and many other Democrats is to be invisible for them. It's their only hope! I'll bet that Sen.McCaskill would rather have a photo shoot with Sen.Santorum, as a matter of fact, I know she would! But Obama's going to win easily next Nov........sure he is!

[its miller time]

01:50 AM on 02/22/2012

What and I do mean what, would replace Obama and why?

[LazarusRises]

02:56 AM on 02/22/2012

Does it truly matter? O. is just another W. clone...just as his replacement shall be. We need a FDR & O. is no FDR or for that matter a Jack Keddedy either.

[SPacific]

01:51 AM on 02/22/2012

Yep....We'll all be more than happy to remind you, just like we did in '08.......

[Edy Kel]

01:34 AM on 02/22/2012

With all the super PACs this election year things will be truly ugly...