333 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY… 241 DAYS UNTIL THE AUGUST PRIMARY

DRIVING JIM TALENT’S DAY — ‘Romney readies mammoth organization for long haul,’ AP: “Mitt Romney has a not-so-secret weapon against Newt Gingrich. The former Massachusetts governor has built a mammoth political machine unrivaled in the GOP field, a campaign that’s well entrenched in the four states to vote in January - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida - and touches dozens of other states that his opponents have largely ignored. At its national headquarters, Romney’s team is executing a strategy that takes advantage of new party rules that award convention delegates in a different way. And supporters from Alabama to Alaska say they’re prepared for an extended primary battle that could go well into the summer. … 

“In some cases, people like former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri have been working on Romney’s behalf, officially or unofficially, for more than four years. ‘He had a solid core of support going in,’ Talent said. ‘Running for president is really running a campaign in a number of different states at once. Romney’s organization started off very early in a number of states.’ … Romney’s organization gives [Speaker Gingrich] a running start in general election swing states like Missouri in a potential head-to-head matchup against Obama next fall. ‘Barack Obama’s going to be a very strong opponent - he almost won Missouri last time - and if the governor is fortunate enough to get the nomination, we’re going to need a strong effort at every level here,’ said Talent.” http://apne.ws/tILoNt

KEY QUOTES from Talent’s Romney press call this AM: “If the nominee is Newt Gingrich, then the election is going to be about the Republican nominee. … He is more concerned about Newt Gingrich than he is about conservative principles. … We can not go on with him as our leader and continue accomplishing things … We were in a situation where we get up every morning to see what the Speaker had said that day that we were going to have to clean up. … If the nominee is Gingrich, the election is going to be about him.” 

CROSSROADS IN, AGAIN — Karl Rove’s American Crossroads GPS will launch a new $250,000+ ad against Sen. Claire McCaskill this week. The ad, entitled “14,” highlight’s the national debt. The ad will run for two weeks in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Mid-Mo. The ad: http://bit.ly/rrpwB3 

— Crossroads spox Nate Hodson: “President Obama and Claire McCaskill have burdened every man, woman, and child with $14,000 in new debt because of their reckless spending. This issue ad is designed to alert citizens to the McCaskill-Obama big-spending agenda which left every American with $14,000 in new debt to pay.”  

WHAT PDK IS READING — ‘Lager reaffirms Republican bid for Mo. lt. gov.,’ AP: “State Sen. Brad Lager says he is committed to running for Missouri’s lieutenant governor’s office - even if it means facing the incumbent, Peter Kinder, in a Republican primary. Lager… had announced his candidacy … last month when it appeared Kinder would be running for governor. A few days later, Kinder changed course and instead said he would seek re-election. That prompted Lager to re-evaluate his plans. Lager told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is staying in the lieutenant governor’s race because he believes voters want a change in the status quo.” http://bit.ly/uQfTdF

REDISTRICTING FALLOUT — ‘Springfield attorney Austin to run for 136th House seat,’ Josh Newlson: “Springfield Republican Kevin Austin officially announced he’s running for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 136th district. In a release Friday afternoon, Austin pointed to his background as an attorney and small business owner. He is a partner at Keck and Austin LLC, in Springfield. Austin formed a campaign committee in July to run for the 135th District, but had to change after a new redistricting map released last week put him in the 136th district. The new 136th district is located in southeastern Springfield and includes portions of two previous districts — the 135th and 140th house districts. … David Velasco, another Republican, is also running for that new seat.” http://sgfnow.co/vLVPDi 

— ‘Boost for the real estate market? Some lawmakers seeking new homes,’ Jake Wagman: “Lawmakers still trying to make sense of the redistricting map that has caused a raucous in Jefferson City could have another daunting task in front of them. If they want to stay in office, they may have to wade into the struggling real estate market, as well. After a pair of bi-partisan panels failed to come to an agreement, the chore of drawing new state House and Senate districts fell to an appeals court panel, which apparently gave little, of any, consideration to sitting lawmakers. … 

“A complex set of rules governs eligibility to run in the newly redrawn districts. Typically, lawmakers must have been living in the district they want to run in a year before election day. For 2012, members of the General Assembly will be able to run in a new district so long as it includes part of their old district. For House seats, incumbents can run in a new district if it’s in the same county, as well. Either way, lawmakers won’t have to move until a year before the following election — November 2013.” http://bit.ly/tXfc75 

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, and welcome to PoliticMo Rundown. Send your tips, comments, and scoops to eli@politicmo.com. 

GOV. JAY NIXON hits the road today (has been quiet this week). This morning, he will visit Columbia to help unload venison from the ‘Share the Harvest’ program. Later, he will visit Eminence to recognize the high school for its A+ designation for 2011. Later, he will visit Salem for another venison event. 

2012 SIREN — ‘Big liberal money may skip moderates,’ POLITICO: “The Senate Democratic majority may hinge on the reelection of vulnerable moderates like Ben Nelson, Claire McCaskill and Jon Tester, but deep-pocketed liberal groups say they won’t go to the mat for them in 2012. A handful of Democrats have spent the past six years staking out positions as centrists who were willing — and sometimes eager — to buck their party on major issues like the environment, unemployment benefits and health care. Now, as labor unions, environmentalists and progressive groups sketch out their multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and get-out-the-vote strategies for 2012, they say they won’t go all in for some of the most hotly contested races, even though they ponied up for some of the same candidates just six years ago. … 

“… [I]ncumbent Democrats can expect plenty of help from party committees and outside groups hoping to keep a Democratic majority in the Senate. … Majority PAC, a Democratic-backed super PAC, spent more than $104,000 to produce an ad backing the Nebraska Democrat. The same group sponsored another ad in June backing McCaskill. … [L]abor groups continue to spend on the moderate Democrats. Missouri’s McCaskill has raised nearly $80,000 from labor political action committees this cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.” http://bit.ly/ums4Bb

DISASTER RECOVERY — ‘Mo. panel OKs suggestions for disaster response,’ Chris Blank: “A House committee examining the state’s response to a spate of natural disasters approved recommendations Wednesday including allowing out-of-state health care providers to help when a state of emergency is declared in Missouri. The Interim Committee on Disaster Recover voted 9-2 in favor of the committee report. The panel’s chairman, Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller, called the report a ‘template’ that would be helpful for lawmakers during their annual legislative session that starts next month. Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, expressed some concerns, including that the governor’s ability to act swiftly in responding to disasters could be limited.” http://apne.ws/sABpvl

— The recommendations: (1) Access to the “Rainy Day Fund” … (2) Commercial Property Tax Abatement … (3) Disaster Recovery Tax Increment Financing … (4) Low Interest Loans … (5) Reciprocity for Medical Providers … (6) Oversight of Appropriations.

— ‘FEMA grant for Missouri,’ St. James Leader-Journal: “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has notified Gov. Jay Nixon that Missouri has received a grant of more than $5.3 million to help the long-term recovery of individuals and families in communities affected by the disasters that hit the state this spring. Those disasters included severe storms and tornadoes that hit the St. Louis area, record flooding along the Mississippi River and across southern Missouri, and the devastating Joplin tornado.” http://bit.ly/rDNmMa 

RDB — ‘Blunt Offers Little Hope for Transportation Bill,’ Washington Missourian: “Federal government problems are hitting home, according to one U.S. senator. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt told a small group at the Washington City Hall Friday afternoon that the federal government had ‘seemingly ceased to function for several years.’ He likely was speaking about Congress and the White House, as governmental agencies have still been in operation even when those branches are on breaks and holidays.

“Blunt said the federal government has not had an annual budget for about 940 days and ‘is barely able to keep the doors open.’ He said the lack of progress has made it hard for local and state governments to get things done, including funding a new Highway 47 bridge in Washington.” http://bit.ly/vSJ7nr

STATING THE OBVIOUS —‘Debate unlikely between Emerson, Parker,’ Scott Moyers: “Eighth District candidate Bob Parker wants to debate U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson before next year’s Republican primary, but a statement released Wednesday by Emerson’s campaign makes that look like a long shot. The statement says that no declared candidates have even personally asked the 15-year incumbent or anyone in her organization for a debate. … 

“Emerson and her campaign had no more to say on the matter Wednesday, but Parker said he believes voters are entitled to hear the candidates debate the issues. Parker, a rancher from Raymondville, Mo., acknowledged that — despite his statement that he has challenged Emerson to a debate — he has not personally contacted her asking for one. Parker lost to Emerson in the 2010 Republican primary, though he did garner about 35 percent of the vote while raising only $38,000 compared to Emerson’s $1.8 million.” http://bit.ly/uB6QSH

SPORTZZZZ — A must-click photo, posted by the Post-Dispatch’s Deb Peterson: ‘A message for Albert the Machine from Stan the Man’ http://bit.ly/tj5xxs