Austin Petersen to run for U.S. Senate in Missouri?

[jct74]

Petersen for Senate 2018: Only Principles Matter

Elias J. Atienza
January 12, 2017

There is heavy speculation that Austin Petersen might run for Senate in 2018 against incumbent Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in his home state of Missouri. While he has refused to put anything on the table, saying that he will decide on a run in June, it is interesting to see which party he will choose, if he decides to run at all. It will also be interesting to see how the Libertarian and Republican Parties will react to his decision.

For those who argue that he should run under the Libertarian Party, it is because of a belief that the party is the best tool for spreading liberty. Despite a less than stellar performance in the 2016 election, where expectations went from possibly winning the election to not reaching the goal of five percent, the LP is still doing better than ever.

They got ballot access in almost 40 states, and received more votes than anytime in their history. Registration has increased dramatically and as National Party Chairman Nicholas Sarwark explained in an interview with The Libertarian Republic, the party has over half a million registered voters for the first time in their history.

In addition, it would continue the fight against the two main parties that have control over the Congress if Petersen managed to win a Senate race under the LP. It would break duopoly’s stranglehold of American politics. The Republican Party has not managed to lower spending, deregulate, or reform government; they have contributed to these problems and a new voice such as Petersen as a member of the Libertarian Party would be welcomed.

Petersen has received support from libertarian figures such as Larry Sharpe, the second place vice presidential candidate in the LP Convention, to stay within the party. He also received pushback from other figures like Adam Kokesh, who ironically ran as a Republican in New Mexico and lost by over 40 percent, and is gearing up for his own presidential run in 2020.

...

read more:
http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/austin-petersen-for-senate-in-2018-but-which-party/

 

[Matt Collins]

This is a joke, right?


If it's not, it will be.

 

[William Tell]

The only reason all these guys run for big offices like this is that they want to gamble and lose, or they don't understand politics. If they wanted to make a difference and actually understood politics they would run for a lower office and work their butts off. Then a couple of them they might win.

Actually come to think of it some of them just want publicity, and you don't get much of that in the races where you can win.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

In addition, it would continue the fight against the two main parties that have control over the Congress if Petersen managed to win a Senate race under the LP.

99.9% chance that won't happen. If he is serious, he should run GOP, and increase his odds a bit.

 

[CaseyJones]

pfft dude wants a MoneyBomb
if he was serious he would run for Rep
better chance of winning

 

[Okie RP fan]

Yea, start small. Effect change at the lowest levels first and foremost.
Through that, you can grow a reputation and then head onto the big pond. This may be a big waste of time, resources, and money.

 

[CaseyJones]

no shit
he should run for state actually
no one has a fucking clue who he is cause he ran for potus in the LP
shit few know who Johnson is

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

The only reason all these guys run for big offices like this is that they want to gamble and lose, or they don't understand politics. If they wanted to make a difference and actually understood politics they would run for a lower office and work their butts off. Then a couple of them they might win.

Actually come to think of it some of them just want publicity, and you don't get much of that in the races where you can win.

They should start small like Rand Paul. Oh wait Rand Paul became a senator with no political experience.

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

pfft dude wants a MoneyBomb
if he was serious he would run for Rep
better chance of winning

He is considering running as a Republican. I'm not sure I would help with a moneybomb though. I have a hard time seeing him as a serious candidate.

 

[William Tell]

They should start small like Rand Paul. Oh wait Rand Paul became a senator with no political experience.

Hey, I take it back. If they can raise $7,000,000 like Rand Paul did in 2010 then go for it.

 

[Matt Collins]

They should start small like Rand Paul. Oh wait Rand Paul became a senator with no political experience.

Actually he did have a lot of experience... he watched his dad in Congress up close for dozens of years, and helped him get elected. He also had a brand which he inherited after the '08 campaign which allowed him to raise a ton of money which got him media attention which gave him credibility which allowed him run a good campaign and win.

So no, AP is nothing like Rand.


AP should run for his local city council or county commission first.

 

[specsaregood]

They should start small like Rand Paul. Oh wait Rand Paul became a senator with no political experience.

If you think Randal had no political experience, then you don't know anything about his background. just as a small example, did you know that at 21yrs old Randal stood in for his father and debated Phil Gramm when his father was running for Senator -- Ron was in DC for a vote and couldn't make it. How many 21yr olds could/would stand in and debate an experience politician (and reportedly do well)?

 

[Jan2017]

He is considering running as a Republican.

I think it would be a start if we had an "L" in US Congress . . .
maybe first as a Congressman would be more do-able in the right district facing a really wrong Republican.

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

I think it would be a start if we had an "L" in US Congress . . .
maybe first as a Congressman would be more do-able in the right district facing a really wrong Republican.

I agree. It would take just the right circumstances to pull it off though. The LP definitely has a better chance to get in the House of Representatives than the Senate.

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

If you think Randal had no political experience, then you don't know anything about his background. just as a small example, did you know that at 21yrs old Randal stood in for his father and debated Phil Gramm when his father was running for Senator -- Ron was in DC for a vote and couldn't make it. How many 21yr olds could/would stand in and debate an experience politician (and reportedly do well)?

He definitely had the experience to make his outsider campaign possible.

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

AP should run for his local city council or county commission first.

Well, this is the trouble with the LP. They focus on big and unrealistic ambitions instead of making small gains and working up. If AP ran for senate I would wish him the best, but I wouldn't donate any money to his campaign.

 

[PowerOfLiberty]

Hey, I take it back. If they can raise $7,000,000 like Rand Paul did in 2010 then go for it.

True. I guess AP needs a new daddy.

 

[Matt Collins]

AP left the LP for the GOP, right?


And no, the LP likely can't win any partisan seats under normal conditions.

 

[Peace&Freedom]

Well, this is the trouble with the LP. They focus on big and unrealistic ambitions instead of making small gains and working up. If AP ran for senate I would wish him the best, but I wouldn't donate any money to his campaign.

Peterson should be running for a MO House seat that is being vacated, that would give him his best chance. Perhaps the Senate announcement is an exploratory trial balloon to first find out where his strength is in the state, then to run there for Rep. If he can win at either level, I do like the idea of a movement person in an elected position near Iowa, as he could later run for President in the Iowa Caucuses as a regional favorite son.

 

[Tywysog Cymru]

I like Peterson, but he should really start at a lower level.