Contentious Gravois GOP Caucus Favors Romney

The delegate dust is still settling after a raucus series of GOP presidential caucuses around Missouri, including a contentious gathering in the Affton area.

GOP Committeewoman Katy Forand said Saturday's Gravois Township caucus  was more crowded and intense than she and the other organizers had expected. Around 120 people turned out to caucus at , some arriving more than an hour before the event began at 10 a.m.

"We had twice as many people as we thought, and they were an angry group," Forand said. "It was just a no win situation."

The Gravois Township runs from River Des Peres through Crestwood between Watson Road and Gravois Road.

The purpose of the event was to select 14 delegates and 14 alternates to attend the 2nd Congressional District Convention schedule for April 21 at Lindbergh High School. This convention will then vote for delegates to attend the Republican National Convention this summer.

In past elections these delegates would be bound to vote based on the results of a statewide primary, regardless of who they support as individuals, but due to a legislative debacle this year's primary was non-binding.

In Missouri each caucus determines some of its own rules, so the Gravois Township caucus chose not to elect delegates individually but rather to vote for one of the three 'slates' of delegates present there: one supporting Ron Paul, one supporting Rick Santorum and one comprised mostly of Mitt Romney supporters, including Forand.

"I don’t think a lot of people understand the caucus system, and I don’t blame them," Forand said. "People were confused and getting a little hostile."

According to Forand frustrations with the rules and the campaigns led to raised voices and shouted accusations. Unlike in St. Charles, however, there was no ban on recording devices and the police were not called.

In an odd twist, Forand said that the Paul and Santorum slates attempted to join forces when they saw that they were outnumbered by Romney supporters.

In the end, however, the causus voted for the Romney slate, which also included a few Santorum supporters.

"We did have a few positives come out of this. A lot of new faces, there were a lot of younger people there," Forand said. However, she is glad the caucus is over. "I hope we never ever have a nonbinding primary again."

Confusion after St. Charles caucuses

The rest of the state's caucuses were a confusing mix last Saturday, leaving behind a virtual trail of tranquality and chaos.

Chaos was the case in St. Peters, where the St. Charles County Republican Caucus ended without any delegates being allocated. The confrontational event became a national story, resulting in stories both on CNN and in the New York Times.

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Because of that event, and other examples of confusion detailed in the national and local media, the GOP caucuses were generally perceived as being chaotic and unorganized. Former Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) appeared on KSDK on Sunday, for instance, and described the process in a rather negative light.

So what happens next? For one thing, at least two more caucuses in Jackson County and St. Louis City on Saturday.

It’ll be interesting to see what unfolds this weekend in Jackson County, one of the most populous areas of the state and home to some Republican strongholds. Unlike St. Louis County, which executed its caucuses by township, Saturday’s meeting will be conducted in one place and at one time.

Patch reporter Joe Scott , most likely in April. That would place the event close to the congressional caucuses in late April, a venue where delegates will actually be allocated.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday afternoon that Republicans in St. Charles County had agreed to hold a new event, with details undetermined.

Eugene Dokes, the chairman of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee, said in a statement posted on the Missouri Political News Service website that he is "working with the state party and with all the campaigns to find a solution to make sure that St. Charles County is represented at the congressional, state and national conventions. It is my highest priority to make sure that we will not lose any delegates."

St. Charles’ allocation could make a difference, mainly since it supplies a good chunk of delegates to the 2nd Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District. 

Then again, the results may be academic at this point. With his resounding victory in Illinois, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems to be pulling away with the GOP nomination for president. But this election cycle has been rather unpredictable, so it remains to be seen whether this week's primary is actually a turning point.

Schweich out

As reported in the St. Louis Beacon, state Auditor Tom Schweich will not run for the U.S. Senate this cycle. The Clayton native had been considering entering

This marks the second time in recent years Schweich decided not to run for Congress’ upper chamber. He had considered challenging then-Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Springfield) in the 2010 U.S. Senate but decided instead to run for state auditor. After beating then-House Budget Chairman Allen Icet (R-Wildwood) in the GOP primary, Schweich ousted incumbent Democratic state Auditor Susan Montee.

The three major Republican candidates in the race include Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Frontenac businessman John Brunner. The winner will almost certainly face Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

Martin, McNary open up shop

Two St. Louis-area candidates for statewide office celebrated the opening of a new headquarters in Valley Park.

Rep. Cole McNary (R-Chesterfield) and attorney Ed Martin will be sharing a space at 932 Meramec Station Road in Valley Park. Martin is running for attorney general, while McNary is running for state treasurer.

Martin dubbed the structure the "Victory Fieldhouse," which seems to be a turn on his "Freedom Bunker" during his 2010 congressional campaign.

"Other state and local candidates were in attendance, giving their thoughts about the direction of the state and the nation," Martin said in an e-mail update. "We were all in agreement that President Obama has to go, and the power of his party has to be cut."

McNary is expected to face off against Democratic state Treasurer Clint Zweifel in the fall. Martin is running against Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren in the GOP primary. The winner of that race will face off against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.