Attorney General Nixon Kicks Off Aggressive Push for Votes in Rural Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Up U.S. 63 and down U.S. 65.  South on Interstate 55 and across U.S. 60.  Beginning this weekend, Attorney General Jay Nixon will take his campaign back to every corner of rural Missouri in an aggressive push to Election Day.

“During these difficult economic times, our rural areas are hurting,” said Oren Shur, Nixon’s campaign spokesman.  “Manufacturing plants are shutting down, family farms are struggling, and good-paying jobs are getting shipped overseas.  In Washington, Congressman Hulshof has voted to make it easier for companies to outsource Missouri jobs and harder for Missouri families to make ends meet.  The last thing rural Missourians need is for a Washington politician to come back here and make matters worse.  That’s not the change we need. During his 16 years as Attorney General, rural Missourians with mainstream values have come to trust Jay Nixon as an independent, effective leader.  Whether it’s fighting crime, taking on corruption or standing up for working families, Jay Nixon has always delivered results.  Jay Nixon is offering real change for rural Missourians, and we plan to pursue their votes aggressively these next eight weeks.”

When Attorney General Nixon began his campaign for Governor, he pledged to build a strong organization throughout rural Missouri, leaving no region out of his strategy.  Following through on that commitment, Attorney General Nixon has attended hundreds of rural rallies and events, and toured dozens of agricultural businesses and farms during these past couple years. He has built an army of volunteers, donors and supporters that stretches across Missouri.  In the final weeks of the 2008 campaign, Attorney General Nixon will return to every corner of rural Missouri to speak to local residents and get out the vote in these non-traditionally Democratic areas.

As a candidate for Governor, Jay Nixon is positioned to perform well throughout rural Missouri:

• Jay Nixon has roots in rural Missouri.  He grew up in DeSoto, a small town in Jefferson County (about an hour south of St. Louis), and attended public schools from kindergarten through law school.  His parents were heavily involved in the community and public service.  His father served as mayor of DeSoto and later as a municipal judge. Jay’s mother served as president of the local School Board and as member of the Park Board.  Prior to his election as Attorney General, Jay Nixon represented Jefferson County for six years in the State Senate.

• Jay Nixon has built the organization needed to win in rural Missouri.  With a staff of nearly 90 full-time organizers and part-time canvassers working in the field, the campaign is now about to open its sixth office.  To date, the campaign’s field staff and volunteers have contacted more than 1 million Missouri voters over the phone and nearly 70,000 voters at their doorsteps.

• Jay Nixon has mainstream values and a record of standing up on key issues in rural Missouri.  During his 16 years as Attorney General, Jay Nixon has developed a record of taking on corruption, fighting crime and supporting the law enforcement community.  Earlier this year, the statewide Missouri Fraternal Order of Police announced its endorsement of Jay Nixon for Governor.

• Jay Nixon has a record of winning in rural Missouri.  In past elections, Jay Nixon has shown his strength as a candidate throughout rural Missouri, even in counties that often support Republican candidates.  In both the 2000 and 2004 elections, Nixon received more votes than President George W. Bush – by a margin of 188,372 votes in 2000 and 137,129 votes in 2004.  As the tables below indicate, Attorney General Nixon performed considerably better than the Democratic presidential nominee in counties throughout rural Missouri in these elections:

2004 Election Returns: Rural and Suburban Counties/Statewide

 

2000 Election Returns: Rural and Suburban Counties/Statewide

Region	County	Nixon	Gore	Bush
Northeast	Adair	5,357	4,101	6,050
Northwest	Buchanan	20,855	16,423	17,085
Southeast	St. Francois	12,032	9,075	9,327
Southwest	Greene	54,018	41,091	59,178
Central	Callaway	9,701	6,708	8,238
Suburban	St. Charles	69,891	53,806	72,114
Statewide		1,378,296	1,111,138	1,189,924

 

In the coming weeks, the campaign will release the full schedule of Attorney General Nixon’s rural Missouri tour.  For planning purposes, however, the campaign announced this tentative calendar today:

Weekend of Sept. 5-7              Southeast Kansas City

                                                Including Warrensburg, Sedalia, Marshall and Independence

Weekend of Sept. 12-13          Northeast Missouri

                                                Including St. Charles, Bowling Green and Canton

Weekend of Sept. 19-20          Southeast Missouri

                                                Including Farmington, Caruthersville, Kennett and Sikeston

Weekend of Sept. 26-27          Route 63

                                                Including Mexico, Moberly and Kirksville

Weekend of Oct. 3-4               Southwest Missouri

                                                Including Joplin, Cassville, Branson and Springfield

Weekend of Oct. 10-11           Route 60

                                                Including West Plains, Poplar Bluff and Dexter

Weekend of Oct. 17-18           Near Southeast

                                                Including Jefferson County and Ste. Genevieve

Weekend of Oct. 24-25           Suburban Kansas City

                                                Including Liberty and Higginsville

Times and locations for all these events are subject to change.  The campaign will release a finalized schedule for each leg of the tour the week prior to the events. 

Members of the media are welcome to cover Attorney General Nixon on his rural tour.  For more details, and to ensure receipt of the media advisories and schedules, reporters and editors should contact the campaign’s press office at (314) 993-8686.

For photographs and notes from the campaign trail, please visit: 

http://www.jaynixon.com/issues/rural