With Tough Fight Ahead, Democrats Urge Party Unity in 2012
By: Missouri News Horizons
Updated: June 11, 2012
LAKE OZARK, Mo. - Aside from the excitement of the delegates heading to their party's national convention, the reality of a challenging election year ahead for Missouri Democrats loomed over the party's state convention this weekend.
The stakes in 2012 for Democrats are high. The party is defending its attorney general, state treasurer, an open secretary of state seat, an important governor's seat, and one of the most vulnerable U.S. Senate seats in the country. With that in mind, statewide candidates told convention delegates there is no time for party infighting.
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat who has been at odds with his party base from time to time, told delegates it is important for the party to stay untied behind Democratic candidates.
"There is too much at stake. We need every one of our players in the game," Nixon said. "We have got to make sure we are all on the field playing hard."
Nixon said he believes the state is "moving forward," and that the state's lineup of Republican hopefuls would put a stop to that. Nixon pointed to Republican efforts to expand voter identification laws and proposed changes to employment law.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, in a prerecorded message to the convention, urged delegates to help get out the vote in places where voters are "not convinced" she should be reelected.
"I need you very, very badly," she said. "I can't do this without you."
McCaskill said Democrats will be opening 20 offices across the state and hiring 100 field staff in the coming weeks as her campaign prepares for a potentially well funded Republican rival and a barrage of outside spending against her.
Missouri Democrats were gathered to select their final delegates to the Democratic National Convention in September. The state will send a total of 102 delegates to the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At their quadrennial state convention, delegates selected 19 delegates to the national convention.
Earlier in the year, the party selected an additional 58 delegates at congressional district conventions. In addition to those, 25 elected officials will go to convention, totaling 102 delegates for the state.
Delegate nominees gave speeches to the convention where they urged them to support their candidacies and praised President Obama.
Patricia Barnes, a St. Louis activist, was elected as a delegate to the national convention earlier this year. She said it will be her first time to attend a national convention.
"I'm really excited," she said. "I'm glad to be around so many other people who are excited."
In addition to the statewide delegates, the party nominated convention alternates, members to the Democratic National Committee, and 10 presidential electors for the electoral college.
Late in the afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon addressed delegates and urged them to support his candidacy and other Democratic candidates.
The stakes in 2012 for Democrats are high. The party is defending its attorney general, state treasurer, an open secretary of state seat, an important governor's seat, and one of the most vulnerable U.S. Senate seats in the country. With that in mind, statewide candidates told convention delegates there is no time for party infighting.
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat who has been at odds with his party base from time to time, told delegates it is important for the party to stay untied behind Democratic candidates.
"There is too much at stake. We need every one of our players in the game," Nixon said. "We have got to make sure we are all on the field playing hard."
Nixon said he believes the state is "moving forward," and that the state's lineup of Republican hopefuls would put a stop to that. Nixon pointed to Republican efforts to expand voter identification laws and proposed changes to employment law.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, in a prerecorded message to the convention, urged delegates to help get out the vote in places where voters are "not convinced" she should be reelected.
"I need you very, very badly," she said. "I can't do this without you."
McCaskill said Democrats will be opening 20 offices across the state and hiring 100 field staff in the coming weeks as her campaign prepares for a potentially well funded Republican rival and a barrage of outside spending against her.
Missouri Democrats were gathered to select their final delegates to the Democratic National Convention in September. The state will send a total of 102 delegates to the convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At their quadrennial state convention, delegates selected 19 delegates to the national convention.
Earlier in the year, the party selected an additional 58 delegates at congressional district conventions. In addition to those, 25 elected officials will go to convention, totaling 102 delegates for the state.
Delegate nominees gave speeches to the convention where they urged them to support their candidacies and praised President Obama.
Patricia Barnes, a St. Louis activist, was elected as a delegate to the national convention earlier this year. She said it will be her first time to attend a national convention.
"I'm really excited," she said. "I'm glad to be around so many other people who are excited."
In addition to the statewide delegates, the party nominated convention alternates, members to the Democratic National Committee, and 10 presidential electors for the electoral college.
Late in the afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon addressed delegates and urged them to support his candidacy and other Democratic candidates.
