6th District Congressional race

Reports show that four-term three-term Congressman Sam Graves raised just $323,000 last quarter.

Maybe his chief strategist has been too busy drafting bus schedules and modeling turnout in Democratic Attorney General primaries to help him shakedown lobbyists for cash?  This is because Sam Graves is a shill for the oil companies, and everyone hates oil companies.

Sam Graves is apparently so proud of his record in Washington that he's using a mail piece in an effort to shave two years off his tenure there.

Graves has dropped a mail piece that notes, under his own photo:

"Completing his sixth year as your representative in Congress, Sam Graves continues to fight for Missouri's Sixth District."

But Graves, of course, was elected to office in 2000, meaning he's completing his eighth year in Congress.  Story Continued »

After all the recent coverage it's received in blogs and national publications, few of us are probably unaware of the silly ad run by a wounded and desperate Sam Graves attacking Kay Barnes for what he calls her "San Francisco style values" because of a recent event she attended on the west coast.

But does Sam Graves reject the "San Francisco style" values of his fellow GOPers?  It's a relevant question after thumbing through the Personal Financial Disclosure of one of our statewide elected Republicans who'll be running again with Sam Graves this fall. 

The financial disclosure form filed by Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 2 of this year includes one compelling entry.  On the "Lodging and Travel" portion of the disclosure, on which officials are required to report any trips paid for by third parties, Kinder cops to accepting paid travel to --Gasp!!-- San Francisco.   Story Continued »

Sam Graves' campaign is premised on the idea that opposition to sky-high gas prices and economic insecurity --the values on which Kay Barnes campaign are based-- are values that belong to voters in other states, not to voters in Missouri's Sixth Congressional District.  

He's even even taken to using a bizarre, low-production value television attack ad to drive home his crazed point, spurring national media speculation about whether the Graves team has run off the rails, even suggesting that "if this is the best hit they have then Sam Graves is in real trouble." 

Luckily, through the miracle of the internets, we have an opportunity to help Kay Barnes continue her strong response to the absurd Graves attacks. 

By clicking Barnes' ActBlue page, we can contribute a few dollars to make sure that voters all over the Sixth Congressional District get a chance to understand that Barnes shares their values.

Check out some of the reviews that Sam Graves pathetic campaign ad is receiving.

The New Republic: Worst Campaign Ad of the Year 

 But this bizarre ad -- the three multiethnic dancers are the crowning glory -- is that very attack, only as interpreted by what would seem to be a GOP campaign strategist in the grips of a terrifying mushroom trip

 Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic asks:

Parody? Or real ad?

 Josh Marshal at TPM:

 Par-TAY

TPM-Election Central:

GOP Attack Ad Foreshadows Wild House Race Ahead, and:

GOP Congressman's Ad Hits Opponent's "San Francisco Values" -- With A Disco Beat