Springfield physician and school board member Michael Hoeman will formally announce his candidacy for State Senate Monday, setting up a likely general election battle with Republican Rep. Bob Dixon.
District #30 incumbent Norma Champion is vacating her seat in 2010 due to term limits.
Hoeman, a Democrat, plans his announcement for 11:30 a.m. in the Frisco Room of the Library Station on 2535 North Kansas Expressway.
In a statement, Hoeman said 'quality health care and a quality education are critical to the future success of the Springfield area and Missouri. These topics, along with working to secure a brighter economic future for Missourians were key motivators in making this decision to announce my candidacy.'
Longshot
U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Purgason said he's encouraged by a new
Public Policy Polling survey that shows his support in double-digits and noted that Congressman Roy Blunt's high unfavorable numbers in the Ozarks exemplify the problems of the Republican Party's frontrunner.
The poll, conducted between November 13 and 15th, shows Purgason trailing Blunt, 53% to 16%in a primary match-up. But in a potential general election match-up, as a candidate that 75 percent of the state doesn't know, Purgason only loses to Democrat Robin Carnahan by seven points.
Purgason pointed to Blunt's 38% favorable rating in the 417-Ozarks area code. 'Those aren't very good numbers. We haven't even seen the negative attacks on Congressman Blunt yet. The bridge to nowhere, the TARP bailouts, the cash for clunkers. We're going to get into a fight that we don't have to have. We're going to be on defense,' he said.
In the Ozarks, voters are divided over Blunt's favorability, 38%-38%. Carnahan's favorability in 417-land is 26%. Purgason's is only 10 percent.
But in all of the crosstabs of the data, Purgason's biggest obstacle is name identification. Three-quarters of the state's potential voters don't seem to have enough information to render an opinion on him.
Purgason acknowledges that fundraising has been a challenge. At the end of the September, Purgason reported raising only around $11,000, with just $1,067 on hand to spend. He reported a total of about 20 contributors.
7th District Congressional candidate Billy Long signed a pledge with FreedomWorks to not support earmarking if elected to the U.S. House next year.
