With the Aug. 6 primary election in Missouri less than four weeks away, candidates in hotly contested races are pushing the pedal on putting forth political endorsements.
And none are giving it more gas than the two leading contenders for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District: incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of ºüÀêÊÓƵ and ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.
While both candidates have provided steady streams of releases about the various supporters they have harnessed, Bush showed up Friday at Kiener Plaza in downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ to fan the faithful.
Saying she was behind the microphone and in front of the cameras to refute “the lies and distortions about me,†Bush brought about 30 members of local service-industry unions with her.
Bush’s focus on organized labor serves as a direct counter to Bell’s recent television ads, spots that have taken Bush to task for voting against the Biden administration’s trillion-dollar infrastructure bill.
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Bell argues that Bush’s vote against the bill, which eventually passed, endangered large amounts of blue-collar jobs and needed improvements in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area.
“I voted against the compromise†bill, Bush said at Friday’s press event, referring to the Senate’s amended version of the legislation. “ºüÀêÊÓƵ doesn’t deserve scraps.â€
The issue with union workers is one of the major points of contention between the Bell and Bush camps, who both want to position themselves as the “union†candidate.
To be sure, both have received union backing, but from unions of different kinds.
Bush’s support comes from guilds representing workers in casinos and restaurants, the communications industry and government employees.
Before Friday’s press event, Bush’s camp announced it had just picked up the support of National Nurses United, which has more than 200,000 registered nurses as members.
But while Bush seems to have cornered the market on the service unions, Bell has picked up numerous endorsements from industrial and trade unions.
Earlier this week, Bell backers announced their candidate just got the nod from the area local of the International Union of Operating Engineers, a construction industry group.
Previously, Bell has been endorsed by other “heavy†trade unions, such as carpenters, plumbers and pipefitters, sheet-metal workers and laborers.
Bush also used her ºüÀêÊÓƵ appearance to again take Bell to task for accepting campaign contributions from groups that back Republican candidates.
Bush did not name the groups, but her backers have not hesitated in the past to name the American Israel Political Action Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group. AIPAC reportedly created a $100 million war chest aimed at defeating Bush and other progressive lawmakers.
Recently, the group swung its weight and money to soundly defeat U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, who like Bush is a member of the progressive group of House members calling themselves “The Squad.â€
Bush has drawn criticism for her staunchly pro-Palestinian stance after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
Interestingly, Bush made no specific mention of the situation in Gaza during her remarks Friday. The only mention of the subject came from Jay Ozier, head of the local Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, who applauded Bush’s push for a cease-fire.
But Bush, with her parade of union supporters, is not the only one of the two candidates embracing the theory that the best defense is a good offense.
After being criticized by Bush of not defending reproductive rights, Bell announced on Friday that he has gained the endorsement of Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, both Bell and Baker announced they would not prosecute people for abortion.
Baker, a progressive Democrat and former state party chair, said in a statement, “I’m proud to endorse (Bell’s) candidacy ... He will be a strong progressive voice in Congress.â€
Not to be outdone in the progressive politician sweepstakes, Bush announced Friday that she has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.
Bush and Bell are not alone in the primary race. Also running are former state legislator Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Ron Harshaw.
SO, ABOUT JOE: At the end of Bush’s event, the press followed its time-honored tradition of shouting out questions as a candidate walks away.
As Bush ambled quickly across the plaza, one reporter asked her where she stood on the question of whether Joe Biden should drop out of the presidential race.
Following politicians’ time-honored tradition of avoiding direct answers, Bush did not say where she stood on the issue and encouraged her constituents to call her office and let her know their opinions.
But then, without any urging from the press, Bush added that “most of the callers†think Biden should drop out of the race.