The Command Post
2004 US Presidential Election
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June 29, 2004
Gephardt | Gephardt Not A Hit With MO Party Leaders

Of 11 randomly selected Democratic Party county heads, only 2 chose Gephardt for VP. 8 selected John Edwards.

Gephardt’s popularity and influence among Missouri Democrats is not strong outside of St. Louis. Many rural voters distrust big-city politicians. He has never run for statewide office and lacks the profile and rapport that grows from traveling its back roads.

“I mostly know Gephardt from seeing him on ‘Meet the Press,’” said Charles Christy of Columbia, longtime Boone County Democratic Committee chairman. “That John Edwards is a fresh face and exciting.”

In southwest Missouri’s Lawrence County, party chairman Jim Kabell recalled traveling seven times to Iowa to knock on doors for Gephardt — but being dazzled by Edwards and the excited new voters he drew to a rally in Springfield, Mo.

“The person I like best and I hear the most buzz about for VP in our area is John Edwards,” Kabell said.

Democrats outside St. Louis were indifferent about Gephardt and, in candid moments, slightly resentful.

It should be noted that this may not be an indication of how the entire state feels about Gephardt, but it does not augur well for Gephardt ending up as Kerry’s VP choice.



Posted by Nathan Hamm at June 29, 2004 04:29 PM | TrackBack
Comments

“Gephardt’s popularity and influence among Missouri Democrats is not strong outside of St. Louis. Many rural voters distrust big-city politicians.”

No surprise here - if you do a county-by-county red-blue analysis of recent presidential elections and plot it on a map, you would find the blue areas (Democrat) clustered around urban areas. The rest of the country essentially is a sea of red.

Posted by: kh at June 30, 2004 10:30 AM

Gephardt is a piece of work. Most Missourians are decent, hard working people and they resent his San Francisco, Pelosi type behavior. He is one of those handful of people that sicken me every time I hear them on the tube.

Posted by: Jeff B at June 30, 2004 01:31 PM

Maybe Jeff….but that clown face Pelosi shakes my cage much more. I hope Gephardt is Kerry’s choice, then at least 500 more dems will sleep thru their convention!! ha ha

Posted by: dickD at June 30, 2004 10:51 PM

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