Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton, a Democrat, is running for re-election in what could be his 18th term. He hasn't seen a close race since 1982. His Republican opponent, Vicky Hartzler, recently attacked his record as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
In an interview with KSHB reporter Chris Hernandez, Hartzler, who lives in Cass County, says it's Skelton's fault that in Missouri "we have the smallest Navy here that we have had since the early 1960s."
Now, the pundits are all over Hartzler like white on a crisp, tight-fitting (mmmmm) sailor's uniform, 'cause there ain't no coast in the Show-Me.
Hartzler's spokesperson has an excuse, via the Pulaski County Daily. The spokesman, Steve Walsh, says his candidate is well aware of Missouri's landlocked geography. Besides, Walsh told the newspaper, it's Skelton who ends up looking confused in the KSHB interview:
[T]he comment from Ike Skelton is kind of odd because he questions Vicky Hartzler's comments about a naval presence in Missouri. He says, "I don't know what she's talking about." Ike Skelton clearly knows that there is a naval presence both at Whiteman Air Force Base and at Fort Leonard Wood.Walsh suggests that the news station's editing was to blame for making the Republican candidate look foolish. [Update: Hernandez responds: "Im here to report on the race, not to get in the middle of it."] Meanwhile, check out the YouTube video released by the Missouri Democratic Party called "Guess Again Vicky."
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