Patch Survey: McCaskill Had Best Ad Strategy; Akin Will See Romney Boost

In a primary and general election season that has seen more than a fair share of advertisements, Republicans and Democrats polled in an unscientific survey have agreed that Senator Claire McCaskill's ad strategy was better than that of her GOP opponent, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin. 

That result, obtained through the final pre-election survey of "Red Arch" and "Blue Arch" Democratic and Republican activists in Missouri, may not come as much of a surprise, given the fundraising challenges faced by Akin since August. His comments about rape and pregnancy saw party and third party funding sources dry up until the campaign's waning days, as the GOP largely sought his exit from the race.

Still when asked, "Regardless of your partisan preference, which U.S. Senate campaign do you think has run the better advertising campaign (across all media) during the general election in Missouri?," of Republicans, 56.5 percent cited McCaskill, while 100 percent of Democrats agreed on McCaskill.

Patch also asked survey participants to gauge the impact of the Presidential race on the Senate contest. President Obama's re-election effort has largely ceded Missouri to Mitt Romney, and most pre-election polls show Romney with a comfortable lead in Missouri. 91.3 percent of Republicans surveyed said the state's presidential result would translate to an increase in votes for Akin, while 54.6 percent of Democrats thought it would also help Akin. The McCaskill campaign has been using Mitt Romney's own comments urging Akin to leave the Senate race in the days after the "legitimate rape" remark in her own advertisements in the closing days of the campaign. That may explain why 22.7 percent of Democrats polled thought the Presidential race would help McCaskill.

Patch asked respondents on both sides of the political divide how they felt about the fact that Missouri has been put on the sidelines for much of the Presidential campaign and if they were disappointed. Most Republicans said no, but not just because it bodes well for their candidate. A large contingent were just happy not to be deluged by more advertising.

Here are some of the comments made by respondents to the question:

Republicans

I have not been disappointed. As long as the electoral college is the way our presidential elections are decided, living in a "safe" state is just something that happens to most of the people in this nation.

Somewhat - the presence of Obama in Missouri would have been a key contrast. McCaskill benefits by not having Obama present.

Yes... We miss the action!

No..because they are BOTH disappointing candidates!

Yes--because the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, Sen. McCain, won Missouri by a very narrow margin and should not be considered an easy win for Gov. Romney or within the reach of Pres Obama.

Democrats

Yes, National Dem's national campaign gives up on Missouri. Makes for a difficult campaign position for many down ballot good and qualified candidates.

In my view, we earned the disinterest of both candidates for being predictably in the bag for the GOP. I realize campaigning is ultimately about dollars and cents so I'm happy the President isn't spending a bunch of money here. Of course I have different reasons for being grateful that Romney is ignoring the state.

Yes. Pres. Obama could have swung independent undecideds if they'd see more of him up close & personal.

Yes I have been disappointed. Clearly both party's believe that Missouri is predetermined. Being taken for granted on a national scale does not help the people of Missouri.

Yes and no. Yes because it shows that our system has flaws. Presidential races should not come down to how Ohio, Florida, and Wisconsin vote. It should be a matter of how the populations of 50 states vote. On the plus side, we didn't have to endure the constant onslaught of commercials!

About The Red/Arch Blue Arch Surveys

Patch political surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population, but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Republican and Democratic activists, party leaders and elected officials in Missouri. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions.

For the information used in this story, 22 Democrats and 23 Republicans responded to questions between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4.

The Blue Arch Roster: Jake Zimmerman (St. Louis County Assessor), Bert Boxerman (Creve Coeur Township Committeeman), Tracy McCreery (State Representative), Jeanne Antoine (Olivette City Council), Missy Waldman (Olivette City Council), Richard Callow (PR Strategist), John Callahan (Committeeman for St. Charles County Township), Julie Biermann (Committeewoman for St. Charles County Township), Charissa Mayes (Committeewoman for St. Charles County Township), Jerry Daugherty (St. Charles County Councilman), Keith English (Florissant City Councilman/State Rep. candidate), Mary Elizabeth Dorsey (Florissant Township Committeewoman), Chuck Banks (Former Jefferson County Executive), Jo Ann Karll (DNC Convention delegate), Mary Broida (Fenton Committeewoman), Bob Usher (Voter), Tammy Vent (Rock Township Committeewoman), LaDonna Appelbaum (Convention Delegate), Timothy Green (State Senator), Gina Mitten (Richmond Heights Councilmember/State Rep. Candidate), Jill Schupp (State Representative), Jim Descher (Voter), Ken Curtis (West County Democrats Co-Chair), Steve Biggs (Meramec Township Committeeman), John Niemeyer (Meramec Township), Jim Frain  (Voter), Julie Dougherty (Voter), Linda Robson (Voter), Jim McHugh (Aide to former St. Louis County Executive), Molly McHugh (St. Louis County Planning Commission), Bob Burns (Affton School Board), Mark Powell (Former Arnold Mayor), John Messmer (Former DNC alternative delegate), Karl Frank, Jr. (Former Mehlville School Board Member/Activist), Donna Seidel (activist), Tom Diehl (Former School Board Member/Activist), Jim Barrett (Activist), Harvey Ferdman (Maryland Heights Township 2nd VP), Rod Jennings (University City School Board Member), Jane Dueker (Former Assistant AG/Chief of Staff To Governor Bob Holden), Gina Walsh (State Senate Candidate), Morton Todd (St. Charles County Democratic Committee Chairman), Mary "Kate" Laughlin (Voter), Rod Hoffman (State Rep. Candidate), Beverly Cowling (Voter), Bill Stinson (State Rep.), Russ Craven (St. Charles County Democratic Central Committee), Theresa Borchert (Voter), Jim Karll (Voter), Jeff Wagener (Former St. Louis County Councilman), Pat Dolan (St. Louis County Council), Stacey Newman (State Representative), Cheryl Hibbeler (Former St. Charles County Council Representative), Deb Lavender (State Rep. Candidate), Kevin O'Malley (Fundraiser/Alternate Convention Delegate), Susan Meredith (State Rep. candidate), Susan Montee (Lt. Governor candidate), Bob Burns (State Rep. Candidate), Jim Karll (St. Charles County Democrats), Gloria Nickerson (Activist), Maureen Rogers-Bouxsein (Activist), Jo Ann Hughes (Activist)

The Red Arch Roster:

Ruth Springer (former Olivette Mayor), Frederic Steinbach (former Chesterfield Mayor), Randy Jotte (Candidate for Congress), Katy Forand (Gravois Township Committeewoman) Scott Rupp (State Senator/Secretary of State Candidate), Rick Stokes (Wentzville Alderman/State Rep. Candidate), Charlie Hinderliter (State Legislative campaign manager), Mark Parkinson (State Rep.), Chrissy Sommer (State Rep.), Jon Bennett (St. Charles Township Committeeman), Eugene Dokes (Chairman of St. Charles County Republican Central Committee), Chuck Gross (former State Senator), Cheryl Bates (St. Charles Young Republicans President), Penny Henke (St. Charles County Republican Central Committeewoman), Joe Cronin (St. Charles County Council), Terry Hollander (St. Charles County Council), Mike Nunnery (Republican voter), Jim Pepper (O'Fallon City Council), David Blanke (Lewis & Clark Republican Township Committeeman), Robyn Hamlin (Candidate for Congress), Don Bickowski (Jefferson County Council member), Linda Van De Riet (Jefferson County Republican Central Committee member), Renee Reuter (Jefferson County Council Member), D.J. Cully (Jefferson County Council candidate), Roy W. Sims (High Ridge Township Republican committeeman candidate), Celeste Witzel (GOP Committeewoman for the Oakville Township), Alan Leaderbrand (GOP Committeeman for the Lemay Township), Kourtney Lamb (President of the Brentwood Young Republicans), Dennis Broadbooks , (Wild Horse Township), Eileen Tyrrell (Meramec Township Member), Judy Hon (Chesterfield Township Committeewoman), Anne Gassel (Wild Horse Township Committeewoman), Chris Howard (Lafayette Township Committeeman/Convention Delegate), Kevin Rejent (Election Attorney), Richard C. Rowe (Republican voter), Rekha Sharma (State Rep. Candidate), Darin Morley (Reboot Congress blogger), Mark Zinn (GOP Consultant), Cynthia Davis (candidate for Lt. Governor), Sue Allen (State Rep.), Claire Chosid (Republican voter), John Diehl (State Rep.), Lee Presser (blogger/tv host), Ed Martin (Attorney General candidate), Carl Bearden (Former State Rep/Exec. Dir. United for Missouri), Michael Morton (Regional Political Director/Ann Wagner campaign), Christopher Brooks (Candidate For County Central Committee), Marsha Haefner (State Rep.), Cloria Brown (State Rep.), Philip Scherry (Rock Hill Alderman), Derek Michael Spencer (Regional Political Director/Brad Lager For Lt. Gov.), Brian Spencer (State Rep. candidate), Catherine Dreher (Candidate for Committeewoman candidate), Annette Read (Candidate, Missouri River Township GOP Committeewoman), Chris Gard (State Rep. candidate), Anthony Pousosa (St. Louis County Council candidate), Kit Crancer (Chief of Staff, State Senator Jane Cunningham), Cole McNary (Candidate for State Treasurer), Michael Burr (Creve Coeur Township Committee Candidate), Maria Burr (Creve Coeur Township Committee Candidate), Bill Stouffer (Candidate for Secretary of State), Tyler Holyfield (State Rep. Candidate), David Wissler (Gravois Township Committee candidate), Pat Walker (Maryland Heights Township Committee candidate), Maggie Walker (Maryland Heights Township Committee candidate), Scott Pinkham (Boone Township Committee candidate), Teresa Douglas (Lemay Township committee candidate), Larry McGowen (Wildwood City Council), Marc Perez (former State Rep. candidate), Arthur Merdinian (Mayor of Olivette), Walt Young (former Ballwin Mayor), Bryan Koen (Florissant Township Committeeman), Terry Hollander (St. Charles County Council), Mark Harder (Lafayette Township Committeeman, Ballwin Alderman, Pres. Lafayette Twp Republicans), Judy Hon (Chesterfield Township Committeewoman).