Donnelly blames “stalking horse” in latest missive to allies
State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, who came within 786 votes of being the state’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, sent out an update Saturday to supporters.
She noted her bittersweet status of being on the losing end of an historic race — “we ended with the closest statewide vote total in Missouri history….”
Then Donnelly pointed out her roadblocks:
The victor, state Sen. Chris Koster “spent 3 times as much money on TV as I did in the last week of the campaign and that we had a ’stalking horse’ candidate who received 23,000 votes after not campaigning at all….”
(Donnelly was referring to Molly Williams of Kansas City, who did no campaigning but snagged about 23,000 votes. Koster has denied his rivals’ accusations that he engineered Williams’ candidacy.)
After thanking supporters and campaign workers, Donnelly explained the legal nitty-gritty:
Under Missouri law we are entitled to a recount if the vote total is less than 1%. Even though the state pays the cost of the official recount we would still have some expenses if the recount proceeds. We are weighing the costs and practical considerations before deciding the next step to take. The recount cannot begin until the vote totals are certified, approximately 2 weeks after the election.
“I will keep you posted on what we decide to do about the recount,” she continued. “Meanwhile, we can look ahead to the November elections and electing Democrats from the president down to the legislative seats.”
The fact that the race is between two Republicans for Attorney General says everything about MISSOURI Democrats. I think personally that Mike Gibbons deserves to win and he will. Maybe this was the desire by certain Democrats anyhow. But, nevertheless, Mike Gibbons deserves to win because of the gullibility of Democrats.
This comment from some Koster-jerk blogger more than proves my point:
”
Ziggy, are you kidding?
Please tell me you are kidding. That’s too much. You’ve got to be kidding.
WHO CARES ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FICKLE VOTE!!?
— can’tbelieveziggy
10:10 am August 10th, 2008″
My vote counts just as much as the next persons’ in this state. And someone with this level of arrogance in himself and his candidacy will never get my vote! And yes, I will vote for Mike Gibbons merely out of protest and not even think twice about it.
Pretty soon Jay Nixon will be wishing he would have endorsed someone in this race and let Chris Koster’s campaign quietly go away.
As a Democrat and someone who supported Jeff Harris but could have proudly supported Donnelly, I have to say that I am having a very difficult time deciding which way to vote in the AG’s race. I’m glad to see I’m not alone in this, and the hostility and arrogance being shown by the Koster-ites here doesn’t make me feel any more inclined to vote for their guy.
I’m wondering if someone can put together a write in campaign. It won’t succeed, but I’d much rather write in for any Democrat as a protest than cast my vote for Gibbons or Koster. Even if I know I’m in essence throwing my vote away, at least it would somehow stand for something and wouldn’t be given to a Republican.
Shecky, you have been a great warrior for your cause and I salute you for your dedication as a Democrat, even when we have disagreed and you questioned my sincerity. However, I am not sure a write-in effort would ultimately be successful against two well-funded AG candidates. I share your concerns. I am asking Koster to SHOW ME. I am not sure he can do it. Back to the garden. Meanwhile, if someone knowledgeable can tell me how a write-in candidacy works and can make a case for success, I would put it into my mix of thinking.
“the hostility and arrogance being shown by the Koster-ites” seems a little hypocritical coming from Shecky.
Shecky is the epitome of the negative, hostile and arrogant.
I would love for the Donnelly and Harris supporters to come over to Koster. That being said, Shecky has consistently been the most negative, attacking voice in the entire debate. Any comments from her/him needs to be taken understanding that he/she is totally committed to attacking Koster. Shecky had a horse in this race and that horse got put down.
Shecky is not even close to being impartial.
Charlie J, you wrote to Jessica: “It seems like you believe that Harris or Donnelly were entitlted to this nomination. Koster won because he ran a better campaign.”
I will reply that A DEMOCRAT is entitled to the Democratic nomination.
I want Mr. Koster to SHOW ME he is a Democrat in deed as well as word.
Unlike some others who come by their views however they come by those views, I am willing to stay open-minded a bit longer. But not forever (which means November).
I humbly suggest those committed to being open minded start with not assuming that every positive thing that is said here and elsewhere about Koster is coming from a Koster-ite. I supported Donnelly with time, talent and treasure and will proudly do it again if there is a recount and if she is proven to be the nominee. Having said that, you do not have to look/listen very hard or very long to the records and to the public statements of Gibbons and Koster, side by side, to figure out that no self-respecting Democrat would choose the former over the latter.
I was with Harris but Maggie is right… well left but the stalkin horse (Molly) & Sinqfeld beat them all. Maggie, I wish you well paying your loan off. Oh, I will never vote for a Republican so I guess I won’t be voting for a Missouri AG candidate this fall.
I forgot. the person who claims Gibbons is evil. He has never taken a dime from Sinquie!…. and he has more integrity and character than Koster. I still won’t vote for him because of the r in the parentheses but I will NOT vote for the imposter!!!
Perhaps the vote for Koster is demonstrating that there are many Republicans and Regan Democrats that are again ready to vote for a Democrat. Maybe this will make a big impact in the polls. “Look, that Koster fella woke up and turned into a Democrat, I guess I should too!”