Menu
Emery-Largent race intrigues observers
One of the more interesting scenarios in Missouri politics this summer is the 31st Senate District Republican primary contest between State Rep. Scott Largent of Clinton and former Rep. Ed Emery of Lamar.
The winner looks likely to succeed Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, who was moved north by redistricting and obliged to seek re-election in the realigned 21st District.
Political observers say the Emery-Largent matchup is intriguing because both are experienced, well-funded candidates, each with strengths and potential disadvantages that make their Aug. 7 primary hard to predict.
Largent's base of support is in the more populous Cass and Henry counties while Emery's is in the stoutly conservative Barton, Bates and Vernon counties, said Nevada banker Scott Buerge and former State Reps. Jerry Burch of Walker and Harold Weil of Butler.
Another wild card is the 31st District candidacy of auto dealer Dave Morris of Peculiar, who vows an energetic race. The plurality primary winner will meet little-known Drexel Democrat Charlie Burton on Nov. 6.
"I don't have any idea who is in the lead," said Buerge, a delegate to last weekend's State Republican Convention. "It might be a toss-up. I've known Ed for a long time and have a great appreciation for his positions.
"I hear good things about Largent, but don't know him very well. He has a good base at Clinton, but they tend to be more Democratic there. Ed is well known on this side of the district. It may go to the guy who gets out on the street and pounds the bricks. A lot of people will vote for you if you look them in the eye and ask for their vote."
Burch, a Democrat who served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1978 to '90 and is now a Jefferson City lobbyist, agreed that the Senate race "is a tough one to call."
"Each man has a little different philosophy," Burch said. "Ed is more conservative, although Scott is also conservative. If something happens in the north where the vote splits, that will probably be to Ed's advantage.
"I don't necessarily see it as north vs. south. Both men can get known in those other areas pretty rapidly."
Burch noted Emery's legislative focus on energy and utility issues and Largent's on health care and finance. "It's a matter of how they appeal to people," he said Friday.
Weil said Largent has a potentially telling advantage with 70,847 voters in Cass County and 13,883 in Henry to Barton's 7,856, Bates' 10,882 and Vernon County's 11,478.
"Location-wise, Scott should be in an excellent position," said Weil, a Republican who was in the House from 1988 to '92.
"There is nothing in the world wrong with Ed Emery; however, it's a hard sell for him to go 100 miles from counties with the least population and campaign. He should make a race out of it, but Largent will be really tough to beat."
Referring to Emery's and Largent's stated plans to spend $300,000 each, Weil said, "I asked Scott about money and he said it was coming in and he'd be in good shape.
"On the other hand, the people in Cass County are conservative but not like those in Bates and Barton. I have asked a lot of people who Morris is and what he's doing and nobody could tell me anything. But he could spend a lot of money with direct mail and TV ads and surprise everyone.
"Morris is basically an unknown, but sometimes the unknown candidate can come on real fast in the end if people have an issue with the others. He is unknown, so people vote for him. I've asked people from Drexel who Burton is and they don't know him, so I don't see how he is going to be very strong."
Weil regrets the loss of Pearce, opposed in the 21st District GOP Primary by Odessa Rep. Mike McGhee of Lafayette County, but he expects Pearce to win there. "David is one in a million," Weil said Thursday night.
"I hate to see as good a guy as him booted around by redistricting. Sooner or later, he will be a real good statewide candidate for something like treasurer or secretary of state."