Dear Leader readers, today’s newspaper-reading experience includes a pop quiz.
Right here, right now. That’s how your eighth-grade teacher used to do it, I suspect. You walked into class, and then, with no warning, you had to prove you had done your homework.
All too often, the night before I had read a good book instead. So, I used to hate pop quizzes, and I bet you did, too.
However, empathy does not always engender mercy. Take your seats, class.
The subject on which your knowledge will be tested? The Missouri Presidential Preference Election, set for Tuesday, March 10, only five days from now.
A careful perusal of Steve Taylor’s Page 1 story about the primary would help you answer some of these questions, but if you skipped over the story, it’s too late now. This is a closed-book test, and detention awaits anyone who peeks.
■ How many presidential candidates will be listed on the ballot?
Answer: Anywhere from one to 22. That’s because you can vote in only one party’s primary. You’ll announce your choice when you get to the polls and be given that party’s ballot. There are five established political parties in the mix for Missouri: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Constitution and Green.
The Libertarian presidential primary ballot will have only one name, while the Constitution ballot will have two and the Green ballot will have three. There are five names on the Republican ballot (including President Donald J. Trump), but – wait for it – 22 names on the Democratic ballot.
The candidates you’ve heard of are there, as well as a bunch you probably won’t recognize. In Missouri anybody can sign up to run for president. And they did.
Every party’s ballot also gives you the chance to declare that no candidate has drawn your support. In that case, you will vote “Uncommitted,” and if enough people make that same choice, it’s possible some uncommitted delegates will end up at their party’s national convention and be empowered to pick a candidate there.
■ How many of your friends and neighbors will you see at the polls?
Answer: Perhaps 35 out of every 100 registered voters you know. In 2016, the presidential primary achieved a remarkable 40 percent turnout in Jefferson County (compared to 7.6 percent in 2012). County Clerk Ken Waller is estimating March 10 will draw a big number, but fewer than in 2016.
■ Can Missourians be bought?
Answer: I guess we’ll find out. Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is pouring wheelbarrows of cash into Missouri political advertising – more than $10 million when I last checked. He hopes to snag a fair chunk of the 78 delegates Missouri will send to the Democratic National Convention. No other candidate is spending anywhere near as much. Trump doesn’t need to and the other Dems don’t have it.
■ Which candidates won Jefferson County in the 2016 presidential primary?
Answer: Donald Trump won the Republican primary, both statewide and in Jefferson County, although interestingly, Ted Cruz was not THAT far behind him here. In Jefferson County, Trump received 17,781 votes to Cruz’s 13,883.
While Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary statewide, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won here, with 11,830 votes to 9,637 for Clinton.
■ Are there actually any Democrats left in Jefferson County to vote March 10?
Answer: While Jefferson County has undeniably become a Republican stronghold in a Republican state, recent elections – including the 2016 presidential primary – show a 60/40 split, with six of 10 county voters choosing Republicans and four of 10 choosing Democrats. If you vote Democratic in these parts, you’re not alone – just lonely.
■ Who looks to win the 2020 Missouri Presidential Primary?
Answer: Trump, of course, on the Republican side, despite those four other competitors. I just looked at the list, but I can’t remember their names.
Polling as of Feb. 28 showed Joe Biden as the top pick for Missouri Dems, by a comfortable margin over second-place Bloomberg. Bernie almost won Missouri last time, but he shows up at the bottom of the pack in nowadays polling, and I bet Jefferson Countians concur.
However, the Leader went to press while Super Tuesday votes were being cast and counted. The outcome of those 14 state primaries, which hand out one-third of the national delegate total, will surely have some impact in Missouri. Unfortunately, my crystal ball is in the shop, so I can’t predict the outcome or fallout.
■ Last question. Extra points if you guess right. Who did I vote for in the 2016 primary?
Answer: I chose to be a Republican that day, even though I identify independent. Along with 2,232 other Jefferson County voters, I chose erstwhile Ohio Gov. John Kasich. With just 6 percent of the county vote, he came in last in the field of four Republicans.
It was kind of humiliating, but I still like the guy.
I hope you did well on the pop quiz, because your results absolutely are going into your permanent record.
See you Tuesday.
