Billy Long may be fed up but he doesn't know Jack

The problem Billy Long faces as he heads down the homestretch of the Seventh District GOP battle is a simple one- He may be fed up, but he doesn't know Jack.

Or at least he didn't know Jack. After playing possum for the most of the first few months of the race, Sen. Jefferson Smith of Mount Vernon is coming on strong. Did I say Jefferson Smith? I meant Jack Goodman, but if anything, Jack Goodman reminded me of the character Jimmy Stewart played in the 1939 classic, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.


"He's so earnest," a local media sort told me after tonight's debate at Missouri Southern State University concluded. if you closed your eyes, you could imagine Goodman fighting the lobbyists to set up a camp for underprivileged children. Through his advertising and his appearances, Goodman is rapidly shedding the "lawyer" label his opponents have tried to stick him with and is coming off across as a sincere candidate. He could be Billy Long's biggest nightmare.

Goodman, who shined in Monday night's forum in Springfield, had the best debate among the eight Republicans, though he probably has to share top honors with Jeff Wisdom. Wisdom is not going to win this race, but he has made enough of a favorable impression that if he wants to continue in politics,  he won't have any trouble finding support.

Another winner was Billy Long. As I wrote earlier, the most important thing for Long tonight was not to make a major gaffe. He came close at the beginning of the forum when he answered a question about Afghanistan by saying, " I can't answer it if I don't understand it," but he on his game the rest of the evening. He hit his talking points, as usual, but he also let more of the good old boy personality work its way into his answers, and judging from the response of the crowd, it was appreciated.

Gary Nodler needed a knockout and he didn't get it. For a brief time, he slipped into his old "Let me show how much I know and you don't" routine, but it was only for a brief time. Nodler's best moments were stressing his experience and saying he wanted to stop rewarding businesses for sending jobs overseas.

Michael Wardell was much improved over Monday night. Tonight, he did not mention one time how all of his opponents were right, but instead related his positions. He didn't win any votes, but he showed he was not out of his element.

That leaves those who came in on the wrong side of the ledger:

Michael Moon- Perhaps it is just because I am a public schoolteacher, but Moon's comments about how well he had done homeschooling his children didn't sit well with me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with homeschooling and many children have thrived in such situations, but to talk about how cheap, but to talk about how cost effective it is really seemed out of place in this forum.

Darrell Moore- Sad to say, but the Greene County prosecutor sounds like he is ready for all of this to be over. The enthusiasm was lacking.

Steve Hunter- Anyone hoping for a bold Tea Party statement from Hunter walked away disappointed. He delivered some of his old red meat lines, but for the most part he sounded tired.

Other winners:

The Joplin Globe and KOAM- The questions were professional with no KWTO talk show hosts attempting to draw attention to themselves. The pace was also much better than Monday night. It was obvious that Globe Editor Carol Stark and her staff took this forum seriously. The questioners, Merle Allen representing the public, Lisa Olliges from KOAM and the Globe's Andy Ostmeyer, Susan Redden, and Alexandra Nicholas (who also represented The Chart) asked solid questions, with Ostmeyer honing in during follow-up questions.

Eli Yokley- The Joplin Fuse creator has been in his element covering the Seventh District rate and he is not as full of himself as that guy at The Turner Report.

Judy Stiles- It would be hard to find someone to moderate that event with more grace and authority than Ms. Stiles.

Some thoughts about the Democratic candidates in a few moments.