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Read the Road to the Capitol Blog, an online journal of Missy Shelton and Katie Hummel's experiences on the road to the capitol.

Road to the Capitol Features:
Election News
Democratic Convention News
Senate Candidates on the Issues
Gubernatorial Candidates on the Issues

Related Links:
Candidate List from the Missouri Secretary of State's Office
Voter Registration Information

Election News

November 4th, 2004 Greene County Commission gets two new members: Voters in Springfield and Greene County on Novenber 2nd elected two new members to the Greene County Commission. Mike Smith has this report:
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November 3rd, 2004 Roy Blunt Wins in 7th Congressional District: Defeating his democratic opponent by more than 40 percentage points, Republican Roy Blunt retained his seat in the U.S. Congress. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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November 3rd, 2004 Bond Re-Elected to Senate: Republican Kit Bond held on to his senate seat. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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November 3rd, 2004 Transportation Funding Amendment Passes: Missourians voted overwhelmingly in favor of amending the state constitution to require that revenues from certain transportation-related taxes and fees go only to pay for road construction. KSMU's Mike Smith reports.
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November 3rd, 2004 Blunt Wins Governor's Race: Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt is Missouri's next govenror. He defeated Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill be fewer than four percentage points. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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November 3rd, 2004 Results in Key Missouri House Races: Three races in Springfield for seats in the Missouri House of Representatives drew a lot of attention. K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel reports on the candidates who won and lost these House seats.
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November 3rd, 2004 Watching the Election Results in Springfield: Republicans and Democrats each held their own parties in Springfield last night to watch election results come in. KSMU's Justin Pointer reports on the atmosphere of the parties and the attitudes of the party faithful as the results became apparent.
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November 1st, 2004 Parties Get Ready: Tomorrow is election day and local political parties are busy. KSMU's Missy Shelton visited offices where both Republicans and Democrats are making their final push.
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November 1st, 2004 Absentee Voting: Election day is tomorrow and KSMU's Katie Hummel visited the Greene County Clerk's office to find out how many people are voting absentee.
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October 29th, 2004 Amendment 3: In just a few days, Missourians will have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment related transportation funding. K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel reports.
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October 27th, 2004 Greene County Commisioner Race, District 1: All three candidates running for a seat on the Greene County Commission are new to politics. K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel begins her report with Republican Harold Bengsch.
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October 27th, 2004 Cafe Report: Bolivar: As part of KSMU's election coverage, we bring you cafe reports, a chance for you to hear political discussions from your neighbors in small communities throughout the Ozarks. KSMU's Missy Shelton recently visited a restaurant in Bolivar, Missouri and files this report.
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October 22nd, 2004 Lt. Governor Race: The candidates running for Lieutenant Governor in Missouri both recognize their race as a low profile one. K-S-M-U's Katie Hummel reports.
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October 21st, 2004 On the Road with Claire McCaskill: To give voters a better chance to get to know the leading candidates for governor, KSMU brings you reports from the campaign trail. We hope to show you the candidates in those unscripted moments before or after their public events. We've already brought you a report on Republican Matt Blunt. Now, KSMU's Missy Shelton brings you this story on Democrat Claire McCaskill.
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October 21st, 2004 On the Road with Claire McCaskill: We continue our report from the campaign trail with the democrat running for governor, Claire McCaskill. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 21st, 2004 On the Road with Matt Blunt, Part 2: We continue our trip on the campaign trail with Republican candidate for governor Matt Blunt. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 20th, 2004 On the Road with Matt Blunt: As part of KSMU's election coverage, Road to the Capitol, we take you on the road with the candidates running for governor. It's a chance for you to learn more about the candidates as people, to hear from them in those unscripted moments on the bus or after the press conference. In the coming days, we'll bring you a reportfeaturing Democrat Claire McCaskill. But today, KSMU's Missy Shelton brings you this story on Republican Matt Blunt.
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October 19th, 2004 Candidates Clash in Gubernatorial Debate: The leading candidates for governor met for their first televised debate last night at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. KSMU's Missy Shelton was there and files this report.
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October 18th, 2004 Gubernatorial Debate Preview: The two leading candidates for governor will meet tonight for the first time for a televised debate. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports on how the candidates spent the day preparing for tonight's debate.
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October 15th, 2004 Missouri State Treasurer Race: Because Nancy Farmer is running for U-S Senate, she's preparing to give up her job as Missouri State Treasurer. KSMU's Katie Hummel brings you information on the two candidates competing for that seat: Missouri Republican Senator Sara Steelman and Democrat Mark Powell, who is the Mayor of Arnold, Missouri.
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October 11th, 2004 Spotlight on Local Race Evening Segment: We continue our report on the race for House District 137 as we ask each candidate about their priorities.
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October 11th, 2004 Spotlight on Local Race-137th District House Race: This race features three candidates in a district that covers northern Springfield. The district is almost evenly split between voters who identify themselves as democrats and voters who say they're republicans. KSMU's Missy Shelton repoorts.
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October 7th, 2004 Greene County Commissioners Race: Two well-known candidates are running for one of the open seat on the Greene County Commission. KSMU's Katie Hummel reports.
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October 7th, 2004 Campaign Diaries: Doug Burlison: As part of our election coverage, KSMU brings you Campaign Diaries - a series of stories profiling local individuals of all political persuasions who are working, volunteering and participating in campaigns throughout the Ozarks. KSMU's Katie Hummel spent the day with a campaign worker at his home in Springfield. Doug Burlison is working to get a Libertarian elected to the state House of Representatives. His name is Doug Burlison and this is his story.
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October 6th, 2004 Secretary of State Race Heats Up: Television ads have begun in the Secretary of State race. The race pits the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives against the daughter of the late governor Mel Carnahan. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 5th, 2004 Political Analyst Comes to SMS: Next Tuesday, veteran political analyst Bob Beckel will be at SMS to talk about life inside the Beltway. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 4th, 2004 Spotlight on a Local Race-138th District House Race: This race is attracting statewide and even national attention. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 4th, 2004 Spotlight on Local Race Evening Segment: We continue our report on the candidates in House District 138. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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October 1st, 2004 Debate Watch Parties in Springfield: Democrats and Republicans in Greene County gathered at watch parties last night to cheer on their party's presidential candidate during the first presidential debate. KSMU had reporters at each watch party. We begin with a report from Justin Pointer who spent the evening with the Republicans at their Springfield headquarters.
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October 1st, 2004 Local Experts Analyze Presidential Debate: Americans tuning in to the first presidential debate last night got a chance to make their first side-by-side comparison of President George W. Bush and his democratic challenger Senator John Kerry. Shortly after the debate, KSMU's Missy Shelton asked two SMS professors to share their analysis of the debate.
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September 27th, 2004 Former Texas Governor Campaigns for Farmer: Former Texas Governor Ann Richards was in Springfield Monday campaigning for democratic senate candidate Nancy Farmer. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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September 27th, 2004 Spotlight on a Local Race: 135th District House Race: Races for the state House of Representatives are attracting attention and contributions from around the state as Republican seek to hang on to control of the House and Democrats try to win back control. KSMU's Missy Shelton has this report on the race for the 135th district here in Springfield.
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September 27th, 2004 Spotlight on Local Races Evening Segment:
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September 24th, 2004 Campaign Funding: The Democratic Primary for Governor was an expensive battle between the incumbent Bob Holden and State Auditor Claire McCaskill. After the August Primary, supporters of the Missouri Democratic Party said they were worried about McCaskill having enough money for the genral election. But the last campaign finance report that came out September 2nd, shows McCaskill and Republican candidate Matt Blunt having enough money for the general election. KSMU's Katie Hummel reports
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September 15th, 2004 Campaign Diaries: Pam Cox: As part of our election coverage, KSMU brings you Campaign Diaries - a series of stories profiling local individuals of all political persuasions who are working, volunteering and participating in campaigns throughout the Ozarks. KSMU's Katie Hummel spent the day with a campaign worker at the Newberry For Congress headquarters in Springfield. Her name is Pam Cox and this is her story. Attn: Immediatly before the broadcast of this story, Pam Cox left the Newberry Campaign.
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September 15th, 2004 Kerry's Stepson Visits SMS: The stepson of Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry was in Springfield today. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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August 27th, 2004 Ralph Nader Visits Springfield: Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader was on the Drury University campus Thursday as part of the school's convocation series. During a press conference before his speech, he said that he will challenge the decision by Secretary of State Matt Blunt to keep him off the ballot. He says he has enough signatures. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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August 10th, 2004 Campaign Diaries-Thelma Neff: As part of our election coverage, KSMU brings you Campaign Diaries - a series of stories profiling local individuals of all political persuasions who are working, volunteering and participating in campaigns throughout the Ozarks. KSMU'S Katie Hummel spent the day with a campaign volunteer at the Ozark Empire Fair. Her name is Thelma Neff and this is her story.
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August 6th, 2004 An Interview with John Kerry and John Edwards: Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards were campaigning in Missouri this week. KSMU's Missy Shelton was one of a handful of local reporters who got to interview the pair when they stopped for a rally in Jefferson City.
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August 4th, 2004 Amendment 1 defeated: Missouri voters say no to adding another casino in the state. Mike Smith has the story:
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August 4th, 2004 Voters Approve Gay Marriage Ban: Missouri voters overwhelmingly supported adding a ban on gay marriage to the state constitution. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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August 4th, 2004 McCaskill Unseats Holden: In a major upset, State Auditor Claire McCaskill unseated the incumbent Governor Bob Holden in the Democratic Primary for Governor. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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August 3rd, 2004 Voter Turnout: Voters head to the polls today to vote in party primaries and to decide two proposed constitutional amendments. KSMU's Missy Shelton spoke with Greene County Clerk Richard Struckhoff about voter turnout.
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July 27th, 2004 Missouri is Key Swing State: The Missouri Delegates who are participating in the Democratic National Convention in Boston are getting attention from some well-known politicians and celebrities because Missouri is viewed as a swing state that's pivotal in the November election. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports from Boston.
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July 27th, 2004 Missouri Delegates First Night of Convention: The Democratic National Convention began last night with speeches from former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. As KSMU's Missy Shelton reports from Boston, Missouri's delegates had prime seats on the convention floor.
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July 27th, 2004 Missouri Delegates Collect Pins and Other Convention Memorabilia: Monday was the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. KSMU's Katie Hummel spoke with some of the Missouri delegates who are having fun collecting pins and other accessories they can wear to the convention each night.
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July 27th, 2004 Springfield High School Student in Boston for Convention : Springfield High School Student in Boston for Convention
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July 26th, 2004 McCaskill Supporters Say They're Being Snubbed : The Democratic National Convention gets underway this week and some Missouri Delegates say they fell like they're being shunned because they're supporters of State Auditor Claire McCaskill and her bid to unseat the incumbent Democratic Governor Bob Holden. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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July 26th, 2004 Missouri Delegates Get Welcome Reception in Boston: The Democratic National Convention begins today in Boston...KSMU's Missy Shelton is covering the Missouri delegates at the convention and has this report on the reception they got Sunday night.
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July 26th, 2004 Women at the Democratic Convention: The Democratic National Convention begins today in Boston. Officials with the Democratic Party have said they want to reach out to women. KSMU's Katie Hummel spoke with a prominent female Missouri politician about her plans for this week.
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July 23rd, 2004 Springfield Voters Consider Power Plant Issue : On August 3rd voters will be asked whether or not a new coal-fired power plant installation should be constructed in Springfield. Many factors are contributing to a growing debate over whether the plant is even worth building. KSMU's Justin Pointer has the story
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July 23rd, 2004 Debate Analysis : Twice this week, the two leaders in the democratic gubernatorial primary met to debate the issues. Monday night, Democratic Governor Bob Holden and State Auditor Claire McCaskill met in Kansas City for a debate. And Tuesday, the two were in St Louis. KSMU's Missy Shelton spoke with an SMS Communications Professor about the debate and how this primary will impact the democrats in the General Election.
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July 21st, 2004 Democratic Candidates Debate a Second Time : For the second time, Democratic Governor Bob Holden debated his leading democratic challenger State Auditor Claire McCaskill. The two squared off last night in the studios of KETC, the public television state in St Louis. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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July 20th, 2004 Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Debate for First Time : Democratic Governor Bob Holden faced his primary challenger, State Auditor Claire McCaskill for the first time in a debate last night. The debate took place at Union Station in Kansas City. The two candidates took questions from a panel of four journalists. KSMU's Missy Shelton has this report.
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July 14th, 2004 Voters Will Decide Fate of Proposed Rockaway Beach Casino : Missourians will vote August 3 on amending the state constitution to allow a casino to be built in Rockaway Beach. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
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July 6th, 2004 Local Reaction to Kerry's Running Mate : Earlier today, John Kerry announced that North Carolina Senator John Edwards will be his running mate. KSMU's Missy Shelton got local reaction to the news. (Part 1)
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July 6th, 2004 Local Reaction to Kerry's Running Mate: Interview with Dr. George Connor. : Earlier today, John Kerry announced that North Carolina Senator John Edwards will be his running mate. KSMU's Missy Shelton got local reaction to the news. Interview with Dr. George Connor. (Part 2)
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July 2nd, 2004 Springfield Church Opposes Gay Marriage Ban: A church in Springfield announced it opposes the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. KSMU's Mike Smith reports.
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Photo Essays

September 03, 2004	RNC 2004: More Missouri Delegates
September 02, 2004	RNC 2004: Politicians and Patriotism
September 01, 2004	RNC 2004: Outside Madison Square Garden
August 31, 2004	RNC 2004: Inside Madison Square Garden
August 30, 2004	RNC 2004: Missouri Delegates
July 29, 2004	DNC 2004: Convention Flare Wear
July 28, 2004	DNC 2004: Missouri Delegates
July 28, 2004	DNC 2004: Celebrities and Politicians
July 27, 2004	DNC 2004: Katie Brooks from Springfield
July 27, 2004	DNC 2004: Outside Fleet Center
July 26, 2004	DNC 2004: Inside Fleet Center

U.S. Senate Race

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Nancy Farmer

07/01/04

The front runner in the U.S. Senate race are the incumbent, Republican Senator Kit Bond and Democratic State Treasurer Nancy Farmer. KSMU's Missy Shelton brings you the comments of Nancy Farmer as she talks about topics that are important this election year.

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Kit Bond

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Bond campaign was unable to set a time when KSMU could interview Senator Kit Bond. A campaign spokesman said the senator is focused on his work in Washginton at this time. We will remain in contact with his campaign and when we're able to secure an interview, we will bring that to you.

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The Gubernatorial Race

Matt Blunt

06/30/04 Today, we feature the comments of Secretary of State Matt Blunt. He's widely regarded as the frontrunner among Republican gubernatorial candidates. KSMU's Missy Shelton has this report.
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Claire McCaskill

6/29/04 Claire McCaskill Today, we feature the viewpoints of State Auditor Claire McCaskill. She's challenging Holden this August in the Democratic Primary. KSMU's Missy Shelton has this report.
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Bob Holden

6/28/04 Bob Holden You may already have seen television advertisements for gubernatorial candidates. The incumbent Bob Holden and State Auditor Claire McCaskill will face off this August in the democratic primary. The winner will take on the likely republican candidate Matt Blunt. This week, as part of KSMU's Road to the Capitol election coverage, Missy Shelton talks with each of these candidates about several key issues. Today, we bring you this report from KSMU's Missy Shelton on the incumbent, Bob Holden.
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Other Candidates

7/12/04 Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians Here's your opportunity to hear from some of the lesser-known candidates whose names are also on the August ballot. KSMU's Katie Hummel has these reports.
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