Playing against politics

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With the races for Missouri governor and most other statewide offices still considered tossups, the next 10 days will be critical for candidates working to sway undecided voters and urge supporters to the polls.

But with the St. Louis Cardinals playing in the World Series and dominating news coverage and water-cooler conversations, will anybody in Missouri be paying attention to politics?

Election Day is Nov. 2. The World Series begins tonight with the Cardinals on the road against the Boston Red Sox. If the series goes a full seven games, it will wrap up on Halloween night -- two days before voters head to the polls.

Dr. Russell Renka, a political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University, said candidates always have to compete against other areas of interest for the electorate's attention. This year, however, he said candidates will find trolling for votes in Cardinals territory somewhat more difficult.

"I don't think it will have a profound effect," Renka said. "But it will mean candidates, especially underdogs, will have a hard time breaking through and being heard."

Candidates who still have substantial campaign funds will try to mix baseball and politics by running campaign commercials during game broadcasts, Renka said, although it will be quite expensive.

The last time the Cardinals competed in the World Series during a general election cycle was 1982. Although those elections also fell on Nov. 2, that was more than a decade before baseball expanded its playoffs to three rounds, pushing the World Series to the end of October.

The political stakes are much higher this presidential cycle than they were during the midterm elections of 22 years ago, which featured few high-profile contests.

Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti said Missourians became engaged in the political process earlier than usual this year and for the most part have a detailed grasp of the candidates and issues.

Cardetti said the early interest was sparked in part by the contested Democratic gubernatorial primary in which State Auditor Claire McCaskill defeated incumbent Gov. Bob Holden. McCaskill is squaring off against Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt in the general election.

Missouri Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca also doesn't anticipate the World Series having much of an impact on the electoral process.

While the air war of television and radio commercials will be important in the coming days, Sloca said the party will put particular emphasis on the ground campaign by launching a statewide door-to-door effort during the 72 hours before Election Day in support of President George W. Bush and other Republican hopefuls.

Tying the American League pennant winners to the Democratic presidential nominee, Sloca added: "After all, John Kerry is from Massachusetts."

Cardetti said Kerry's loyalty to his hometown Boston squad won't cause a backlash in Cardinals country.

"Everybody expects this to be a great series between two great teams," Cardetti said. "Missourians will appreciate the fact that John Kerry is a big sports fan." mpowers@semissourian.com

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