We’ve previously covered the extravagant (and minutely targeted) mail plan of those “independent” republican friends on behalf of David Pearce (r – advocate of automotive deer hunting):

David Pearce (r) in the 31st Senate District – the republican money floods in

Well, we’ve got more of that mail, most of it paid for by the republican “Majority Fund” and some of it paid for by Pearce’s campaign. All of it looks the same, even down to the fonts and photos. These mail pieces contain all of the usual tactical right wingnut wedge issue themes. Uh, David Pearce ain’t no moderate when you read his mail. I bet the voters in Johnson County would be interested in that fact, huh David?:

The details are even more fun. From the piece above:

Sometimes it can be nice to have your “independent” republican friends drop $75,000.00 into your primary.

Hmmm, boasting that he made sure poor people and poor children have no health insurance. That’s republican family values for you…

All by his lonesome self. Yeah, dumping that MOHELA thingy means that it’s a lot more expensive for Missouri students to go to college. Way to go, Einstein…

Yes, there’s that fake movie set office, but there’s something vaguely familiar about that tie.

Ooh, look! Here’s another piece – this time David Pearce’s campaign paid for it. Gee, it looks kind of familiar, you know, with the same fonts:

If you scrimp and save and loan your own campaign $49,000.00, you too, could send out familiar looking mail pieces.

Evidently the cost of all that mail and those loans doesn’t leave you any money to buy a different tie for the photo shoot. Come on, work with us here. At least attempt to make those other mailings look like “independent” expenditures.

Yeah, on that jobs thingy, how have the last six years worked out for you? A word of advice – placing the word “cutting” in close proximity twice to the word “jobs” isn’t going to go over well with voters subjected to this limping republican economy. Just sayin’. You know, because anyone with a basic grasp of reality knows that the job situation ain’t exactly rosy.

And who paid for the next mail piece? It’s from the republican right wingnut campaign playbook – noun, verb, anti-choice:

If you’re a republican candidate you never have to worry about raising money for your campaign, your “independent” friends will pay for things. And they’ll throw in a meaningless “fake” endorsement to boot.

Uh, yeah, we pointed this out last time. It’s just plain stupid to say that we should pass a law to make something illegal when it’s already illegal. And then there’s those raging radicals at Planned Parenthood, running through our high schools and forcing pregnant teens to get abortions. Next thing you know, they’ll plant tracking chips in our brains…

You all know what to do. Chris Benjamin (D).

Somebody spent an awful lot of money on David Pearce’s (r – advocate of automotive deer hunting) senate primary campaign and it wasn’t his campaign (well, yeah, he spent some money, too).

Okay, what’s with the baby photo? Is that supposed to be subtly catering to the right wingnut anti-choice republican base?

So who paid for this, and what did they spend?

Uh, where did these folks get those charming high quality family photos? Public domain?

Okay, let’s take a look at the Majority Fund’s 8 day before the election campaign finance filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 28th:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: MAJORITY FUND INC

ReportDate: 07/27/2008

Axiom Strategies LLC Kansas City, MO 07/15/2008 mail production and posta $74,901.90

[emphasis added]

Axiom Strategies. Axiom Strategies. Where have I seen that before? Oh, yeah, around the same time David Pearce spent some  money on whatever Axiom Strategies does. They must have a lot of people in their offices. Nah.:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: PEARCE 08

ReportDate: 7/28/2008

Axiom Strategies Kansas City MO 07/20/2008 Campaign Mail $44,839.76

What did all those expenditures get David Pearce (r)?:

The county by county primary results, courtesy of the Missouri Secretary of State:

Bates County

State Senator – District 31 Precincts Reporting 16 of 16

Rector, Rex REP 733 59.1%

Pearce, David REP 507 40.9% [loss]

Benjamin, Chris DEM 1,686 100.0%

Total Votes   2,926

Cass County

State Senator – District 31 Precincts Reporting 48 of 48

Rector, Rex REP 3,416 54.3%

Pearce, David REP 2,876 45.7% [loss]

Benjamin, Chris DEM 5,071 100.0%

Total Votes   11,363

Johnson County

State Senator – District 31 Precincts Reporting 11 of 11

Rector, Rex REP 431 15.5%

Pearce, David REP 2,348 84.5% [win]

Benjamin, Chris DEM 2,092 100.0%

Total Votes   4,871

Vernon County

State Senator – District 31 Precincts Reporting 17 of 17

Rector, Rex REP 491 47.9%

Pearce, David REP 533 52.1% [win]

Benjamin, Chris DEM 1,873 100.0%

Total Votes   2,897

Counting in the chunk of change Pearce spent on Kansas City radio I figure Bates and Cass Counties cost him about $40.00 a vote. Holy cow. It would have been easier and cheaper to buy everyone in each county a steak dinner.

Maybe some people should ask for their money back.

The word on the ground in Bates and Cass Counties was that they were inundated with mailings in support of David Pearce. I have yet to hear about similar mailings in Johnson County. Probably because the texts were so, well, you know, right wingnutty. And that probably wouldn’t go over very well in Johnson County because, you know, David Pearce is a moderate. Yeah, and I have a bridge I could sell you in Brooklyn.

Here’s some of the details from a mailing:

That one won’t go over very well in Johnson County, David.

Johnson County

Constitutional Amendment No. 2 – 2006 Precincts Reporting 21 of 21

Stem Cell Initiative

Yes 8,544 55.7%

No 6,796 44.3%

Total Votes   15,340

[emphasis added]

I wonder if David Pearce is telling us how he voted in 2006. Is that why you didn’t send that mailing to Johnson County voters?

Uh, that’s already the law in the State of Missouri. Talk about pandering to the right wingnut base.

That “agenda” is probably news to Planned Parenthood.

So much for a so-called republican moderate. It’s just so creepily unseemly isn’t it? This blatant brown nosing of the republican right wingnut base.

And so, the republican money flows.

You all know what to do. Chris Benjamin (D).

The candidates running for the open senate seat in the 31st District – David Pearce (r – advocate of automotive deer hunting), Rex Rector (r) and Chris Benjamin (D) –  filed their 8 day reports. There’s some interesting information in those lists of expenditures.

We’ve covered this race in previous posts:

31st Senate District – second quarter campaign finance reports

31st Senate District – first quarter campaign finance reports

Rex Rector (r) announces for the 31st District senate seat: the deerhunter’s worst nightmare

Let’s take a look at what David Perace (r) is spending money on, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: PEARCE 08

Report[ ]Date: 7/28/2008

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City MO 07/04/2008 Fundraising $4,327.10

Rocket Group LLC Jefferson City MO 07/04/2008 Campaign Literature $1,379.11

Western Robidoux St. Joseph MO 07/04/2008 Campaign Literature $1,188.00

Callis & Assoc Sedalia MO 04/14/2008 Campaign Services $5,896.57

Thompson Communications Marshfield MO 07/08/2008 Radio Advertisement $18,980.48

Friendly Phones Bethany 07/21/2008 Information license $2,500.00

Western Robidoux St. Joseph MO 07/21/2008 Campaign Printing $801.97

Axiom Strategies Kansas City MO 07/20/2008 Campaign Mail $44,839.76

Thompson Communications Marshfield MO 07/21/2008 Radio Advertisement $18,806.60

[emphasis added]

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: PEARCE 08

Report Date: 7/28/2008

Johnson County Republican Central Committee Warrensburg MO 07/23/2008 $6,725.00

What? No money from the Cass, Bates, or Vernon County republican committees?

Radio! Radio! Direct mail (everyone say “Hi!” to Jeff Roe)! Don’t tell us someone advised David Pearce to run radio ads in the expensive Kansas City market, whilst they took a 15% commission. Say it ain’t so.

Rex Rector (r) filed his 8 day report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 27th:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: CITIZENS FOR REX RECTOR

Report[ ]Date: 7/26/2008

Lettercraft Printing & Graphics Summit, MO 07/11/2008 brochures $3,211.19

B&H Laser Toner and Ink Pleasant Hill, MO 07/07/2008 toner cartrages $583.92

Phoenix Office Pruducts KC, MO 07/22/2008 envelopes $106.59

Do you sense some mailings and a literature drop or two?

Chris Benjamin filed his 8 day report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 28th:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: BENJAMIN FOR SENATE

Report[ ]Date: 7/28/2008

DAMAR PRINTING KCMO 7/02/2008 PRINTING $906.10

THE MARTING COMMUNICATION GROUP KCMO 7/11/2008 CONSULTING $1,500.00

MAJORITY STRATEGIES STL MO 7/15/2008 CONSULTING/FUNDRAISING $3,297.00

What? Oh, that’s right. Chris Benjamin didn’t have a primary opponent. Heh.

David Pearce (r), advocate of automotive deer hunting, had a much better fundraising quarter when compared to the last one, thanks a whole lot to banks. Chris Benjamin (D) had another good quarter. Rex Rector (r) is, well, Rex Rector and has started to raise some money and work his grassroots empire, if you can trust word on the street.

The 31st Senate District includes Bates, Cass, Johnson, and Vernon counties and the cities of Warrensburg, Butler, Harrisonville, and Nevada (among many others). This is an open seat race – Chris Koster (D) who currently holds the seat is running for Attorney General.

David Pearce (r) filed his second quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 15th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe[e]: PEARCE 08

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $133,665.06

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $73,895.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00

7. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS PERIOD (SUM 5A + 6A) $74,237.36

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $207,902.42

10. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $37,847.66

11. EXPENDITURES MADE BY CASH OR CHECK THIS PERIOD $28,229.51

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $66,077.17

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $146,268.45

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD

(SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $49,000.00

[emphasis added]

Let’s look at what he spent:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: PEARCE 08

Report[ ]Date: 7/15/2008

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City MO 06/03/2008 Fundraising $1,178.47

Campaign Toolkit St. Louis MO 05/31/2008 Campaign Signs  $7,608.92

5500 Real Estate Belton MO 06/07/2008 Campaign Office $1,200.00

Schmidt Photography Kansas City MO 06/23/2008 Photos $1,000.00

Greenfield Marketing Doe Run MO 06/24/2008 Campaign Supplies $2,460.00

Callis & Assoc Sedalia MO 04/14/2008 Campaign Services $11,357.10

A little bit of fundraising and pictures!. He got the t-shirts last quarter.

And where did the money come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: PEARCE 08

Report Date: 7/14/2008

34th Republican Senatorial District Committee St. Joseph MO 06/06/2008 $6,750.00

Bank of Bolivar Boliver MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Central Bancompay Jefferson City MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Consumer Lending Alliance Wright City MO 06/20/2008 $675.00

County Bank Brunswick MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

F & C Bank Holden MO 06/20/2008 $500.00

Farmers & Merchants Bank St. Clair MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

First Community Bank-Windsor Windsor MO 06/20/2008 $675.00

First State Bank Robert MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Heritage Community Bank Chamois MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Palmyra State Bank Palmyra MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Security Bank Cassville MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

Senath State Bank Senath MO 63876 06/20/2008 $100.00

Southern Comercial Bank St. Louis MO 06/20/2008 $250.00

State Bank of Missouri Concordia MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

The Bank of Missouri Perryville MO 06/20/2008 $100.00

[emphasis added]

What, was June 20th some sort of bank holiday? Yeah, David Pearce is gonna look after the little guy.

Let’s take a look at Chris Benjamin’s (D) second quarter 2008 campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on July 15th.

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee[e]: BENJAMIN FOR SENATE

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $57,815.35

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $43,000.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $101,125.

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $29,611.46

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $67,313.54

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD

(SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $0.00

[emphasis added]

Not bad, not bad at all. No debt.

My favorite right wingnut, Rex Rector, also filed his second quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee[e]: CITIZENS FOR REX RECTOR

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $1,710.00

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $18,035.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $16,193.75

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $8,217.93

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD

(SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $0.00

[emphasis added]

And where did his money come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR REX RECTOR

Report Date: 7/14/2008

Missourians Needing Education Alternatives PAC Heartland Jefferson City, MO 04/02/2008 $325.00

Missourians for Economic Growth PAC East Jefferson City, MO 04/02/2008 $325.00

…and so on and so on…

“Missourians for Economic Growth”. Where have we seen that before?

One candidate with $49,000.00 in debt and one with no debt at all. Tell me again, which party is the one of fiscal responsibility?

Leeton, Missouri is a very small town in south central Johnson County, just at the bend in Highway 2 a few miles east of Highway 13. Around this time of year every two years the area political campaigns show up with their supporters, signs, and candy for the Leeton parade. I’ve pointed out for years that this parade is the “second shortest in the county” – the politicians and their supporters vastly outnumbering the observers. The thing is, everyone shows up early to line up for the parade to get their vehicles festooned with signs and their supporters into matching t-shirts – the preparation process taking more time than the actual parade.

Chris Benjamin (D) in Leeton, Missouri.

Today I walked with Chris Benjamin, Democratic candidate in the 31st Senate District. He thrives on the contact he gets with voters at these events.

While everyone waits for the parade to start they engage in conversations – political and social. I even said a few words to some republican participants.

The early morning fog had burned off by the time the lone Leeton police car sounded its siren to signal the start of the parade. The high humidity and the sun made the environment very steamy. Chris Benjamin shook every adult hand along the parade route, zig zagging from one side of the street to the other.

Chris Benjamin working the Leeton parade crowd.

After the parade Chris Benjamin told me that he’d be going door to door in Belton (in Cass County) this afternoon and then walking in a parade in Nevada (in Vernon County) after that. Evidently he’s keeping a very full schedule. There are four counties in the senate district.

Kristi Kenney, Democratic candidate in the 120th Legislative District also had a contingent in the parade. She knows this parade well, having run for office in 2006.

Kristi Kenney (D) (left) and her campaign truck prior to the start of the parade.

The candidates send out advance teams to plaster the parade crowd with their stickers. Campaign volunteers accompanying their parade vehicle pass out information in the form of palm cards.

Mike Wagner, Democratic candidate for judge in the 17th Circuit, had a very large contingent of supporters which probably came close to outnumbering the entire population of Leeton.

Mike Wagner (D) (left) at the parade line up point.

The 17th Judicial Circuit encompasses Cass and Johnson counties.

Almost every candidate had a truck with their large signs, or a truck pulling a trailer. You’ve just got to love rural Missouri.