Talent, Steelman eyeing 2012 Senate bid

[ccharles000]

JEFFERSON CITY | Fewer than 50,000 votes separated Democratic challenger Claire McCaskill and Republican incumbent Jim Talent in Missouri's 2006 U.S. Senate race — a difference of only about a dozen votes from each precinct. McCaskill won.

Now McCaskill and Talent may be headed toward a role-reversal rematch in the 2012 elections. This time, McCaskill will be the incumbent. And Talent could be the challenger.

Although no one is officially a candidate yet, the 2012 political season already is quietly under way as potential candidates are calling around to prospective contributors and party stalwarts to gauge their support. The candidacy intrigue centers mainly on the Republican Party, because Democrats already have incumbents in the U.S. Senate, governor's office and most other statewide offices up for re-election in Missouri.

Talent, who served four years in the Senate, is among the most well-known Republicans pondering a 2012 Senate campaign. So is former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman. Talent hopes to make a decision about the Senate race by early 2011.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/28/2477649/analysis-talent-steelman-eyeing.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Steelman is awful and Talent isn't much better

Claire is going to have a fight on her hands.

[bluestateguy]

2. We already had an election

I'm not much interested in thinking about another one.

[Ter]

3. Neither will get the nomination

The Tea Party will have completely taken over the Republican Party by then.