Missouri Primary Turnout Pitifully Low

Sure the race for the presidential primary was only a "beauty contest" and there were no binding delegates distributed as a result of the final tally yesterday. Sure some people stayed home protesting the decision by the state to "waste" millions of dollars on an election that "didn't matter." All in all, however, it was a dreadful day for democracy in the Show Me State as voter turnout was a mere 7.98%. It is even more paltry when you learn that voter turnout was expected to be around 23%. Ouch!

Southwest Missouri had the highest average rate of voter turnout in the state. Fueled by the 911 tax debate, Barry county had the highest rate in the state at 24.13%, followed by Cole county 17.85%, and Christian county at 14.83%. The lowest rate of voter turnout came in New Madrid county where only 3.27% of the registered voters in that area bothered to show up to the polls.

Regardless of who won or lost on the basis of what happened yesterday, the national media isn't focusing on the turnout rate. They are focusing on who won. And when only eight percent of the registered voters in your state can drive the conversation, there was a bigger loser in the state yesterday than Romney -- it was democracy.

Jerry Jacob returns to KYTV

KY3 Facebook photo

Jerry Jacob, who left the anchor desk at KYTV five years ago to serve in the U.S. Army, is returning to report for the station later this month.

Around The Show-Me State: February 5

Rock, Chalk, Not A Good Day To Be A Jayhawk

 

 

Wrongful Death Lawsuit To Be Filed Against Police Department

 

 

Gruesome Discovery in Hannibal

Despite Cold, Cape Girardeau Residents Take The Plunge For A Good Cause

Joplin Habitat Challenge Announced

Trial Date Set For Ferret Attack Case

Bush daughter to visit Marshfield for Cherry Blossom Festival in April

Photo by Timothy Horrigan

Jenna (Bush) Hager, daughter of President George W. and Laura Bush, confirmed yesterday that she will attend the 7th-annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield on April 27.

Hager is just one member of the many presidential families that will be present at this three-day festival in Webster County. She will speak at one of the event's many public forums.

"This is the first year that we have invited Jenna to attend," said festival chairperson Nicholas W. Inman. "However, members of her family have been represented at past festivals. Her grandparents sent a taped video message last year; it can be viewed on the festival website. Also, her grandfather's first cousin, Ambassador George Herbert Walker spoke last year."

Inman said that over 26 presidential families will be represented at Cherry Blossom Festival this year, along with appearances by bluegrass extraordinaire Rhonda Vincent, Gilligan's Island's Dawn Wells and Maggie Peterson Mancuso, who played Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show.

"There will be vendors around the square, several dinners, presentations of the Ella Dickey Literacy Award, Missouri Walk of Fame stars and the Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative, Marshfield's highest honor," Inman said. "The festival will also feature several free historic forums, panels, book signings, autograph sessions and talks."

Inman's vision for the event when he organized the first Cherry Blossom Festival seven years ago is still evident today.

"It is a weekend that promotes the preservation of Missouri and American history," Inman said. "There are many events for those who love typical festival events. ... However, our festival is like no other. It serves as a reunion spot for presidential descendants each year. It is the largest gathering of such relatives in the nation."

For a complete schedule of the 2012 Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.cherryblossomfest.com.

Missouri To Get Visit From Presidential Candidate

Politic MO is reporting that Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is planning a day of campaigning in the Show-Me State on Friday ahead of Tuesday's non binding presidential primary. The former Pennsylvania Senator is expected to make several stops in the state. Details have not yet completely been finalized, but it appears that he will visit at least three cities (Hannibal, Fulton, and Lee's Summit).

Santorum recently received media
attention after a strong performance
at the CNN Florida Debate.

Santorum received a late notice win of the Iowa caucuses, but since then has finished third or fourth in the contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida. Tuesday's primary in Missouri is not the official primary contest in the state this 2012 election year. That will be on Saturday, March 17 when Missouri will hold caucuses. However, the Gingrich campaign failed to make the ballot for the primary in the Show-Me State and the Santorum camp believes a win here on Tuesday could prove that he is the viable alternative to frontrunner Mitt Romney if Newt were to drop out.

A recent poll showed that Santorum held a slightly better than ten point lead on the former Massachussetts governor in the upcoming primary.