Democrats open Cape campaign office with McCaskill visit

EDITOR'S NOTE: The date of the primary election has been corrected.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., was in Cape Girardeau on Saturday morning for the grand opening of the Missouri Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign office.

There will be 20 such offices around the state; the Cape Girardeau office is the first in Southeast Missouri. The offices are where supporters can volunteer their time to canvass by phone or knock on doors, and where they can donate money to any Democratic candidate who would represent their area.

At 10:15 a.m., McCaskill stepped off her campaign RV at 36 N. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau to greet a crowd of more than 90 supporters and volunteers. McCaskill made a short speech discussing her campaign platform. She also encouraged her supporters to volunteer their time. McCaskill spoke mainly about Medicare, Social Security and veterans affairs issues, promising to defend funding for those programs.

"I don't expect to win Cape County," McCaskill said. "In this campaign we're going everywhere in the state. It doesn't matter if it's the reddest of red territory or the bluest of blue."

McCaskill said she thought her campaign was doing relatively well.

"I don't hold this seat for me -- I hold it for you all," she said, referring to her constituents.

McCaskill shook hands, met with supporters and posed for photos after she spoke.

Three Republican Senate candidates -- U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, businessman John Brunner and former state treasurer Sarah Steelman -- will face off in the Aug. 7 primary, with the winner taking on McCaskill in the Nov. 6 general election.

rovermann@semissourian.com

388-3688

Pertinent address:

36 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO