U.S. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri and fellow Republican contenders for statewide office rallied voters in Springfield Wednesday, as part of a push to build momentum into Election Day.
Blunt, who is being challenged for his seat by Democrat Jason Kander, defended his record before some 300 attendees, saying the negative ads against him “couldn’t possible and reasonably be true.”
“But what you’re not hearing from the other side is anything about my votes representing this state in the Senate the last six years. “You’re not hearing, ‘Well he’s the guy who more often than anybody else was on the [Senate] floor talking about families and the way they were impacted by Obamacare,” said Blunt.
Missouri is one of a handful of states where polls indicate tight U.S. Senate races, with control of the chamber at stake. Blunt said whether Obamacare lives on or is repealed and the choice of a Supreme Court justice and subsequent vacancies will be determined by Missourians.
“No president, no Senate for the next 30 years is likely to have as much impact on the Supreme Court as the president we elect on Tuesday and the Senate we put into place on Tuesday. It is a critically important time.”
Over that span, Blunt added that given the ages of the eight current justices “You have to assume two [appointments], I’d bet three, and I wouldn’t be surprised by four.”
Campaigning with Blunt Wednesday was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who too pounced on Obamacare, saying the president broke his promise to Americans.
“I’m gonna make a very easy proposition to the voters here in Missouri. If you’ve gotten what Obama promised – if your premiums have dropped $2,500 a year – then vote for the Democrats. And if they haven’t, if you’re premiums have gone up because of the disaster that is Obamacare then let’s fix it and let’s vote for the gentlemen standing here on the stage,” said Cruz.
The former Republican presidential candidate said if Blunt loses on Tuesday Republicans will lose its Senate majority.
“We need to re-elect Roy Blunt to the Senate, and we need to keep a Republican majority in the Senate because we need the Senate to check the executive branch.”
Cruz and Blunt’s message before a raucous crowd followed speeches by statewide GOP contenders; all of whom took aim at their Democratic challenges and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
They included Missouri Treasurer candidate Eric Schmidt, Secretary of State candidate Jay Ashcroft, Attorney General candidate Josh Hawley, Lieutenant Governor candidate Mike Parson, and gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens. Missouri’s Republican Party Chairman John Hancock and former governor and U.S Attorney General John Ashcroft also delivered remarks.
They spoke of a chance for a Republican sweep on Tuesday, and implored attendees to do their part to get others to the polls.
“Folks I’m running for governor for a very simple reason,” said Greitens. “That is that Missouri is a great state, a beautiful state that is full of promise and potential. But for far too long we’ve been held back by crooked Clinton-style politicians like my opponent Chris Koster. Well on November the 8th we’re putting an end to politics as usual and we’re gonna take our state back.”
Wednesday’s rally is among many get out the vote efforts taking place around the state by both major parties in the run-up to Election Day. On Tuesday, Blunt’s opponent and U.S. Senate Jason Kander addressed supporters in Springfield.
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