Missouri Sends Obama a Birthday Message

Over 70% of Missouri voters sent President Obama a birthday greeting that isn't likely to improve his mood on his 49th birthday.  The "Show Me" State overwhelmingly rejected the key provision of Obama's health care reform:

The measure was intended to invalidate a crucial element of President Obama’s health care law — namely, that most people be required to get health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Supporters of the measure said it would send a firm signal to Washington about how this state, often a bellwether in presidential elections, felt about such a law.

“My constituents told me they felt like their voices had been ignored and they wanted Washington to hear them,” Jane Cunningham, a state senator and Republican who had pressed for a vote, said Tuesday night. “It looks to me like they just picked up a megaphone.”

 The Times goes on to soften the blow a bit noting the turnout for hotly contested Republican races played a crucial role in the vote's fate.  Ed Morrissey pops that bubble:

Bear in mind that over 315,000 Democrats turned out to cast ballots in the primary that nominated Robin Carnahan, while over 577,000 Republicans hit the polls. That is about a 65/35 split — which means that a significant amount of Democrats either supported the ballot measure repudiating ObamaCare, or didn’t bother to cast a vote to defend the program. Actually, Prop C got more votes than the combined voting in both Senate primaries — which tells us something even more about the passion in the electorate.

Democrats may have to hit the panic button after seeing the results from this swing state. ObamaCare set fire to the electorate last year, and that may be an inferno for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in November.

 Actually most of the Republican races were not all that competitive either.  Roy Blunt  won the Republican nomination for Senate with over 70% of the vote.  Only the 4th and 7th Congressional District races ended up being close votes.  Clearly the Republican enthusiasm gap is huge and this is a factor that is not presently accounted for in most of the polls we are currently seeing.  While Democrats have hoped to hypnotize their base with polls showing most elections in their grasp, Republicans should note the real effect of their power in the only polls that matter - elections.

The biggest loser in this Missouri primary may well be Robin Carnahan. How fast can she run from ObamaCare? She may run but she won't be able to hide from ads like this:



Also blogging:
Adrienne's Corner:Well this should be fun to watch
Good Lord: Missouri Edition
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Related:
Donald Douglas has more on Obama's Birthday Blues