The first of Missouri’s U.S. Senate faceoffs takes place at the Lake of the Ozarks. It wasn’t quite a debate. It was the Missouri Press Association candidates’ forum in which incumbent Republican Senator Jim Talent and Democratic candidate Claire McCaskill shared the stage with Libertarian Frank Gilmour and Progressive Party flagbearer Lydia Lewis. The discussion covered such topics as the war in Iraq, the future of Social Security, national security, and illegal immigration. Among the highlights: Senator Talent pointed to differences between himself and McCaskill over border security and the proposal to build at wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He pointed to a newspaper story in which McCaskill was quoted as saying she did not favor that approach. McCaskill responded by saying she was and is opposed to a fence – alone – because that is only part of the solution to the illegal immigration problem. McCaskill says she, like Talent, is opposed to amnesty. She adds American employers who hire illegal aliens must be prosecuted. Talent has said he favors going after these employers, as well. Three debates are scheduled in the coming weeks: October 8th in Washington on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” October 11th in Clayton, and October 16th in Springfield. A Kansas City area debate is in the planning stages.
Related web sites:
Talent for Senate
McCaskill for Missouri
Frank Gilmour for Missouri
Lydia Lewis for U. S. Senate
Missouri Press Association
