“It’s impossible to overstate how disastrous last week was for Josh Hawley — who Mitch McConnell has extolled as his ‘top recruit.’ In five days, Hawley’s campaign chaotically careened from poor fundraising numbers, to his condemnation of birth control, to revelations that concerned Republicans are trying to recruit Rep. Ann Wagner to the race,” said American Bridge spokesperson Joshua Karp.
By Brian Lowery | 3/3/18
- “U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner had a palpable presence at the Missouri Republican Party’s convention in Kansas City this weekend without ever setting foot inside the hotel.
- “Hawley had…disappeared from the convention by Saturday afternoon.”
- Hawley “canceled his scheduled appearance at a panel of statewide elected officials that afternoon and left for Columbia without plans to return for that evening’s dinner and keynote address.”
- “He was the only state-level Republican officer absent from the afternoon panel.”
- “Austin Petersen, a Kansas City Republican also seeking the nomination, said that he’d welcome Wagner’s entry into the race.”
- “‘I think it shows that Josh Hawley is not really as loved by a lot of Republicans as they expected,’ Petersen said as he ate a bowl of ice cream at the Westin at Crown Center during the party’s convention on Saturday.
Politico Pro: GOP sources: Wagner taking second look at Missouri Senate race
By Kevin Robillard | 3/2/18
- “Rep. Ann Wagner is taking a second look at entering Missouri’s Senate race, three Republican sources say.”
- “Republicans in Missouri have approached her about reconsidering the contest, and two sources said she discussed it with other members at the GOP’s congressional retreat in West Virginia this week.”
- “In a statement, a top aide to Wagner did not directly address whether Wagner was thinking of entering the Senate race. ‘The congresswoman is focused on her important and pressing work in the U.S. House and Missouri’s Second Congressional District,’ said Brecht Mulvihill, her campaign manager.”
- “Rumors of her renewed interest have circulated in the state capital, Jefferson City, and only grew after a St. Louis television station reported on an automated poll asking residents if they would rather Hawley or Wagner challenge McCaskill.”
- “Hawley’s fundraising hasn’t met expectations….He raised $958,000 in the final three months of the year and has $1.2 million on hand.”
- “McCaskill, meanwhile, raised $2.9 million in the last three months and has $9 million on hand. Wagner, a former RNC co-chair and U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, has $3.2 million in the bank.”
Published: Feb 5, 2018