Give a few weeks, the mayor will switch his endorsement. Our mayor is the definition of the "dirty politician".

If switching your view points makes you a dirty politician, then I'm sure he is a big Obama supporter. The almighty Barack changes positions more than his wife changes out of those ugly dresses she wears that are the "talk of the town". He will go down in history as the biggest flopper in the history of politics.

Will be interesting to see how far this goes in getting around all of the partisan politics in Washington.....don't see it happening. If this "party swapping" is simply an example of "getting rid of the partisan politics" why is it that the campaign staffers felt a need to release a list of Democrats who are supporting Graves? What a "great move" to help develop a working together attitude. Sorry, this is additional campaign rhetoric and when push comes to shove and the negative campaign ads begin to roll again, we'll know that our "Northwest Missouri values" are not necessarily shared by either candidate in the 6th district race. Both will be overly influenced by party politics and negativity will win again.

Good call nwmo. You hit the nail on the head. The root of all political evil is the sickening way our elected politicians follow partisan lines and not the needs or the wants of their constituents.

You would never see a "Republicans for Kay" list released. I think this speaks toe support Graves has across party lines. The KC Firefighters have endorsed Graves, and the local firefighters are very supportive of his efforts. I think the fact that Democrats are crossing party lines to support Graves speaks volumes to his efforts to not represent Washington DC or the Republican paty, but rather the 6th District.

Sorry, but I do think there are "Republicans for Kay" I just don't think it is important to release a list. Seeing how others vote, or plan to vote, does nothing to impact my voting. I have seen letters to the editor from 'major players' who are supposedly democrats, switching to support Graves. I know the business' these people own. The current policies of the Republican administration have provided them with a windfall and great business climate. Why would they not want change?
I wish I could believe that Graves' votes represent the 6th district and not "party" but they have not always represented me well. And after the election is over, just as his ads have targeted in the primary, it will once again be "the same ol' thing!" I have seen absolutely nothing from his campaign to convince me otherwise. I think finally the message of frustration with negative campaigning is sinking in, but will either candidate have the clout to tell the party officials "no" I will stand on my own record, not tearing down the other. Won't happen and it is just a matter of time before we see pressure put on the candidates to attack.

i am a <former> republican, now libertarian, very much for barnes.

Like it or not, negative campaigning wins elections. Until research shows otherwise, candidates will continue to use it and then talk like they won't be negative. We have to change the voting public, who is influenced by 30-second sound bites on how they vote before negative campaigns go away. Not blaming, faulting or making excuses for anyone here,t hat's just how it is.

If Sam Graves ran on his hard work on the farm bill, his support of teachers, or other positive accomplishments he has done in his tenure, and then the extreme groups like Emily's List and MoveOn.org came in and channelled millions of dollars for tv spots in the weeks approaching the election (like theya re currently doing) Sam would get hammered and lose the election. Unfortunately, he too has to take the gloves off and play hardball.

And I would guess Kay would be hard pressed to find identified Republicans in every county to come forward and endorse her, like Graves has with Democrats. Barnes doesn't have a thing in common with your true Republican values. She's a big-city, tax-and-spend, liberal mayor who if elected would be just another voice for downtown Kansas City. Kansas City doesn't need another Representative, they already have one.

ohhhh noes heritage, them evil Republicans are rooning our freedoms with that damned Real ID and the Patriot Act, ahhhhhhhhhhh!@#!!

And Kay Barnes will have to show that she can support rural NW Missouri. I completely understand that "location, location, location" impacts where federal funds get distributed....and that is a concern of allowing the "power base" to move to the southern end of the district. And while "negative campaigning" may win elections, and it may be proven, I would like to think that running a campaign on your own values and the values of the voters in your area.
If people are tired of negative campaigning, then voters need to step up and demand appropriate conduct of the officials seeking election. Idealistic, I know. But I think back to Jerry Litton days......I was only a teen, but a class act that could be repeated, time and time again.

You may argue Sam Graves’ politics all you want. I won’t. I don’t send my Representative to Congress to pass laws anyway. We can’t enforce the laws we already have, and every law passed takes away another little piece of our freedoms. Forget all that.

I send my Representative to Congress for only one reason; to funnel as many of my Federal tax dollars back to my district as possible, by whatever means necessary. Say whatever else you may about Sam Graves, but he has been more successful at pushing our tax dollars back to this district than anyone else we have send to Washington in the last 20 years. For that reason alone, Sam Graves has my support.

Heritage,
Thanks for your support in making the republican party stronger. By becoming a Libertarian. You deserve Kay Barnes.