It's right v. right in southeast Missouri congressional election (STL Post Dispatch)

[pstokely]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/it-s-right-v-right-in-southeast-missouri-congressional-election/article_1dd728ae-b961-5043-9598-7d1a9abdc456.html

"Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District encompasses a geographically huge, politically “red” swath of southeast Missouri, including Jefferson County, Cape Girardeau, the Bootheel and much of the Ozarks. Its now-vacant congressional seat has been held by Republicans for 32 years.
So it’s not surprising that the two major candidates in the June 4 special election — Republican state Rep. Jason Smith and Democratic state Rep. Steve Hodges — both tout conservative credentials that make the contest look less like a two-party election than a GOP primary race.

“Steve Hodges for Congress — Southeastern Missouri conservative values,” announces Hodges’ campaign website.

“Jason Smith ... a champion of the rights and values of farmers and rural Missourians,” trumpets Smith’s site.

Both sites feature farm scenes on their opening pages. Both candidates are anti-abortion, anti-deficit, lifelong Missourians who sing the praises of rural life and traditional values.

Both have strong pro-gun records in the Missouri House, forcing the NRA to choose between two candidates it has backed in the past. (The organization is endorsing Smith.)

So where do the candidates find contrast with each other?"

[hfojvt]

1. I would be happy to support Hodges

although I think he should be more populist in his message. I would try to show the majority that if Smith goes to Washington, that this time he will NOT represent the ordinary people, that instead he will represent the rich and the powerful at the expense of the rest of us.

[Tx4obama]

2. Republican Smith wins Mo. congressional race

Republican Smith wins Mo. congressional race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Jason Smith won a special election Tuesday for a vacant congressional seat in southeast Missouri that had been held by the same political family for the past 32 years.

-snip-

As he had in the campaign, Smith used his victory to immediately take aim at President Barack Obama.

"This is a conservative district, without a doubt, and they don't believe in the policies of Obama, of more regulation," Smith said. "They don't support Obamacare and they want fiscal constraint whenever it comes to balancing the budget."

-snip-

During his campaign against Hodges, Smith called for the repeal of Obama's health care law and pledged to fight regulations affecting small businesses. He touted endorsements from Missouri Right to Life, the National Rifle Association and various agricultural groups while describing himself as a "commonsense conservative."

-snip-

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Republican-Smith-wins-Mo-congressional-race-4574213.php

Make me want to puke!