McCaskill, Blunt offer thoughts on Obama's chances in southwest Missouri

In an article in today's Washington Post, Sen. Claire McCaskill and Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt offer their thoughts on how Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will do in southwest Missouri. Ms. McCaskill, of course, can cite experience since her success in defeating Jim Talent was largely due to her to garnering more votes than expected in this region of the state:

"It's the difference between winning and losing," said McCaskill, who squeaked past Republican Jim Talent with 49.6 percent of the vote in 2006. "People all over the state need to have a sense that a candidate cares about them, and if you don't bother to show up in rural Missouri, if you don't bother to ask for people's votes all over the state, then you're not going to win statewide in Missouri."

Blunt offers a different take:

"Southwest Missourians are much more focused on substance at the end of the day than style," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), whose district hosted Obama all day Wednesday. "No question he has style. He gives a great speech. But there's a reason Missouri has been called for years the Show-Me State."