Will Purgason be Able to Tap Grassroots Anger?

If State Sen. Chuck Purgason's initial statements about his candidacy are any indication, Roy Blunt may be forced to answer questions about his record in Congress much earlier than he'd hoped. Blunt is already indicating he hopes to ignore Purgason entirely, but Purgason's criticisms are direct, easy to explain and persuasive (if not yet backed by a lot of money):  Roy Blunt was in charge, and he blew it.

Indeed, the tension between Blunt and Purgason is playing itself out across the country. From The Hill: 

Republican challengers show schisms in party
By Reid Wilson

Faced with a difficult landscape where Democrats have ample targets, Republicans have crowed about their Senate recruits in recent weeks.

But in backing candidates who take a more centrist tack, the party risks ugly primaries that once again expose the cracks in the GOP’s underbelly.

David Lieb's latest article for the AP has little in the way of new information about the GOP primary, but it does succinctly outline Purgason's main argument against Blunt.

Republicans already have crafted a campaign theme: "the growth of the federal government, the intrusion of it into every aspect of American's personal and business lives," according to Lloyd Smith, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

But some Republicans have questioned whether Blunt is the best candidate to deliver that message. He's a 12-year incumbent who was the Republican House whip at a time when the GOP presided over its own expansion of federal deficit spending. [...]

"There is just such a disconnect with Washington and the people we've had elected in office," Purgason said. "It's not just a Republican thing; I've talked with Democrats that are just as frustrated with the direction they're going."

Blunt says he doesn't think Purgason's candidacy would hurt his campaign.

"I think we're going to be able to stay focused on the real job here, which is the comparison to Robin Carnahan and what happens if she gets elected vs. what happens if I get elected," Blunt said.

Roy Blunt's "real job here," of course, is to move the discussion away from his actual record in Congress.

Purgason phrased it a little differently when speaking with the News-Leader's Chad Livengood, but it's the same general point:

Purgason, who runs a hunting preserve and hatchery near Caulfield in Howell County, said Republican Party voters need a conservative candidate who knows how to say "no" to runaway spending.

He said Blunt was part of a group of Republican Party leaders during the Bush presidency who “failed to live up to what I think is one of the main platforms of the Republican Party and that’s a balanced budget." [...]

Purgason likened promoting Blunt to U.S. Senator to buying a used car from the same dealer who sold you a bad model before.

“This is much more important than buying a car,” Purgason said of choosing retiring Sen. Kit Bond's replacement.

Here's Purgason's statement, as quoted by The Star's Steve Kraske:

"People are just not satisfied with the direction we're going, the leadership we've had."

He said Republicans "had their opportunity when they controlled the House, the Senate and the Presidency and it seemed to be business as usual. And it's not that they were just in charge. He was in leadership."

Indeed, Blunt was chosen by Tom Delay to by the GOP Whip, and eventually became the GOP leader. But defending or explaining that record is not part of Blunt's "real job here," we're told.

It will be interesting to see if prospective primary voters are okay with this delaying of the discussion. Blunt's establishment support seems comfortable enough with avoiding an honest discussion of Blunt's (many) vulnerabilities, but the Tea Parties and still-growing birther movement indicate an undercurrent radical undercurrent of discontent.  Will they fall in line for a man who represents "business as usual" and doesn't know "how to say 'no' to runaway spending?" We'll see.