MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
With the dust settling after the 2002 elections, state Democrats lack leadership in rural areas. Elizabeth Gill has the story in Jefferson City:
There are 14 senate seats in rural Missouri. Following the 2002 elections, Democrats hold only 2 of these seats. The balance of power rests with Republicans who some experts say benefited from an ability to keep public attention off the economy and on homeland security. John Paddock is a political science professor at Southwest Missouri State University:
Paddock says the split of power between Democrats and Republicans in rural areas dates back to the late 1960s and reflects national trends.
From the State Capitol, I'm Elizabeth Gill, KMOX News.
Date: November 11, 2002
By: Elizabeth Gill
State Capital Bureau
Democrats left wondering what went wrong with the 2002 elections will find no comfort when they look at the situation in rural Missouri. Elizabeth Gill has the story in Jefferson City:
Of the 14 senate seats in rural Missouri, Democrats have control of only 2. John Paddock, a political science professor at Southwest Missouri State University, says Republicans gained an advantage in rural areas when issues like abortion, gun control and women's rights emerged in the late 1960s. He says the Democrats should have focused on issues like health care in the recent elections:
Paddock also says Democrats failed to focus on the state economic crisis to win voters in rural areas. From the State Capitol, I'm Elizabeth Gill, KMOX News. Date: November 11, 2002
By: Elizabeth Gill
State Capital Bureau
With the dust settled after some crushing losses to Republicans on Election Day 2002, Democrats are left to survey the damage. Rural Missouri stands out. Elizabeth Gill has the story in Jefferson City:
Democrats had the chance to capture 9 senate seats on Election Day in rural districts. They secured none. Overall, Republicans have command of 12 of the 14 senate seats, raising the question as to whether there is a vacuum of Democratic leadership in rural Missouri. Jeff Smith, a political scientist at Washington University, says the Democrats are challenged at a national level as well:
Smith says the divide on cultural issues like abortion and gun control will continue to make it challenging for Democratics to win rural Missouri votes. From the State Capitol, I'm Elizabeth Gill