Plane revelations dog McCaskill's re-election bid

[The Northerner]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Claire McCaskill once turned a political opponent's use of a plane to her advantage. Now she's seeing the issue from a different vantage point.

With a tough re-election race in 2012, the Missouri Democrat has come under heavy criticism for her use of a plane she owns with her husband. First it was revealed that McCaskill, among the wealthiest members of the Senate, had received approximately $79,000 in federal reimbursements for her flights, including at least one to a political event. A few days later, McCaskill revealed that she and her husband had also failed to pay about $320,000 in state taxes on the plane.

The revelations have embarrassed McCaskill, who was elected in 2006 as a champion of good government. They have also emboldened GOP opponents eager to puncture her image as a plainspoken woman of the people. Republicans believe McCaskill's plane can serve as just one example of what they see as her straying from the will of Missouri voters.

"I think voters will hold against her that she said she was fighting government waste, talking about how there shouldn't be two sets of rules, and on the other hand she wasn't paying her property taxes," said Lloyd Smith, the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party. "That in and of itself rubs people the wrong way."

McCaskill's frustrated supporters agree.

"The fact that a lot more people in the state know that she and her husband have a private jet, it's not the best thing that could happen," said Steve Glorioso, a Kansas City, Mo., media consultant who has worked with McCaskill in the past. "But she is very good at communicating with average Missourians, and campaigns make a difference."

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[RZM]

1. Had McCaskill been up last November, she probably wouldn't have survived

Unless of course she had an Angle-caliber opponent. This is going to make 2012 that much harder and it was already an uphill battle. Still, she could squeak by on Obama's coattails.

[movonne]

5. If it was a repug it would no problem...we always pick on our dems..

[Oceansaway]

2. whodathunkit, a tax cheat....nt

[SoCalDem]

3. She will be lucky to remain in office

But she's not a liberal ..at all..

The only thing she has going for her (for us) is that (D) after her name.. she adds to the numbers when we try to maintain a majority..not much more..

The maps for the next two cycles is UGLY, and I don't see us in the majority for a while after 2012.


How many "reds" do YOU see turning blue? I see many "blues" turning red...

[roguevalley]

10. can't do the time, don't do the crime. she deserves this. cheater.

but then, the rich aren't like us don't you know. Someone famous once heard that and said, 'yeah, they have more money'. :P

[emilyg]

4. Cheat.

[Politicalboi]

6. She had justice Thomas

Do her taxes. He told her they didn't have to claim it. See problem solved.

[FLAprogressive]

7. another fucking Conservadem

[Ramulux]

8. She needs to be primaried

Its our only chance to save this seat. She is absolutely toxic and has no support from the netroots or the progressive base.

[The Northerner]

9. +1