307 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY… 216 DAYS UNTIL THE AUGUST PRIMARY

IOWA CAUCUSES TODAY — KMBC’s Mike Mahoney, Kansas City did live shots last night and this morning from the Hawkeye State. Ask him about Santorum and CBS’s Scott Pelly. Pic: http://bit.ly/rQzCiT

— Can you find the KC Star’s Steve Kraske in this pic, from NBC Action News’ Chris Hernandez, also in Iowa: http://on.fb.me/rPcgMF

THE SURROGATES — We talked with Sen. Jim Talent late last night, after he finished attending a big rally with Gov. Mitt Romney in Des Moines. Talent continued to push the electability argument the campaign has been pushing for months: “On Monday, former Missouri Senator Jim Talent wasn’t riding through Iowa on Mitt Romney’s campaign bus, but he was leading an important drive to build momentum for Romney’s presidential campaign for caucus day. Talent rallied volunteers at the Romney campaign’s Iowa headquarters in Des Moines, encouraging them to continue their effort to contact potential supporters and encourage them to attend the Tuesday evening caucuses. … On caucus day, Talent said he plans to continue rallying supporters, and said he may even speak on behalf of the campaign at a caucus site.

“In his role as a top surrogate for Romney’s campaign, Talent went on national television on Sunday to argue Romney is the electable opponent to President Obama next year. Last week, he delivered a similar message with Sen. John Thune at stops in Sioux City and Le Mars. ‘Governor Romney is best positioned to [beat Obama],’ Talent said, later in the interview. ‘He is also best positioned to get his agenda accomplished.’” http://bit.ly/tv2K05

— We also spoke with Sam Graves’ operation yesterday, as the congressman was riding Rick Perry’s campaign bus through several stops in Iowa: “Monday, Graves traveled with Perry on his campaign bus to four cities. Tuesday, Graves is scheduled to speak at the Ottumwa caucus on Perry’s behalf. Graves, who chairs the House Small Business Committee, said he supports Perry because he believes Perry has shown an understanding of how to encourage job creation with taxation and regulation policies. … Graves was among half a dozen Perry surrogates making their way around Iowa on the day before the cacuses. Former presidential candidate Steve Forbes, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, and Governors Sam Brownback and Bobby Jindal were also on hand for Perry.” http://bit.ly/s1DDC9” 

YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS — NBC News put together a 23-page “guide” to the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary, full of interesting facts about the first of the nation selection contests. Also in there: a calendar of all the primaries nationwide, with a special asterisk next to Missouri. Guess why. PDF: http://bit.ly/v8vXPi

WHAT MCCASKILL’S REELECT IS READING — ‘McCaskill in the middle: centrist or opportunist?,’ Post-Dispatch: “McCaskill’s profile in the waning days of the 2011 Congress suggested a politician getting ready for a re-election campaign in 2012 — preparing for the riptide of attacks that already have begun and trying to better position an appeal to a Missouri electorate that has tilted right in recent years. But in an interview, McCaskill argued that she’s the same centrist Democrat that she has been during the first five years of her Senate term, and her record of frequently breaking with her party largely bears that out. She pointed to her vote in 2007 to derail immigration reform, her opposition as early as 2008 to climate change legislation, and her efforts to ban earmarks — pet spending projects inserted in legislation — that started soon after she arrived in Washington. Still, her votes with most members of her party for health insurance reform and stimulus spending provide Republicans with plenty of ammunition. … 

“A vote tally by the Washington Post showed that Ben Nelson, a Nebraskan who also has been the target of Crossroads GPS ads, was the only Senate Democrat to break ranks with the party last year more often than McCaskill. Nelson last week announced he will not seek re-election. In the 2007-2008 Congress, the first for Nelson and McCaskill, they were the two Democrats most likely to buck their party. In the 2008-2009 Congress, McCaskill was fourth among Democrats voting against their party; two of the four are now gone from the Senate. In another vote analysis, this one by National Journal, McCaskill lands in the category labeled ‘centrist.’ Her votes last year placed her eighth on the list of least liberal — or most conservative — Senate Democrats, the same ranking she earned in her first year in Washington.” http://bit.ly/vTEtP2

BRUNNER LAUNCHES NEW AD — Senate candidate John Brunner launched his latest ad campaign, featuring a TV and radio buy. 

— The TV ad, featuring footage from his campaign announcement late last year: “ANNOUNCER:  ”When John Brunner purchased the family business, times were tough.  He was advised to borrow money.  Spend more. You know, the Obama/McCaskill way. But Brunner changed course.  He cut spending.  Put his company’s finances in order.  And began adding hundreds of jobs.” JOHN BRUNNER:  ”It was a lesson I have never forgotten and one Our career politicians have never understood: America can’t borrow And spend its way to prosperity.” http://bit.ly/uRHzK9

— The Radio ad: “JOHN BRUNNER: “What I’ve experienced from over 30 years in the manufacturing business will continue to be my guide in the U.S. Senate.” ANNOUNCER: “That’s constitutional conservative Republican John Brunner, candidate for U.S. Senate. When John Brunner purchased the family business, times were tough.  He was advised to borrow money.  To spend more.  You know the Obama-McCaskill way.  But Brunner changed course.  He cut spending. Put his company’s finances in order.  And it paid off.  Within 18 months, the business had its best year ever.  And began hiring, adding hundreds of employees.”

JOHN BRUNNER: “It was a lesson I have never forgotten and one our career politicians have never understood: America can’t borrow and spend its way to prosperity. But I’ll match my experience as a manufacturer and job creator against a career politician’s resume of borrowing and spending anytime, anywhere!” http://bit.ly/ss7QzB

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, and welcome to this edition of PoliticMo Rundown. Send your tips, comments, and scoops to eli@politicmo.com. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Thomas Bloom… 

SEN. ROY BLUNT will hold economic roundtables in the mid-Mo. towns of Hermann, Vienna, and Freeburg today. 

THE MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will hold a press conference today in the Capitol Rotunda at 2:00 p.m. to detail their legislative priorities. On hand: Dan Mehan, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Tim Phelps, Missouri Merchants and Manufacturers; Ray McCarty, Associated Industries of Missouri; and Brad Jones, National Federation of Independent Businesses. 

SHANE SCHOELLER, BILL RANDLES will speak in SWMO tonight at the monthly meeting of the Southwest Missouri Conservative Network, in Joplin at 6:30 p.m. 

COURT DATE — Ed Martin , a St. Louis Republican running for the congressional nomination in the second district, was in court Tuesday morning regarding a 2010 breach of contract lawsuit from his time on the St. Louis election board. (Background on the lawsuit, per the Riverfront Times: http://bit.ly/ucVqVG) 

VOTERS SPLIT — ‘MOScout Poll: Voters Split on Who They Trust on Economy,’ Dave Drebes: “With the failure of the recent special session of the legislature in mind, a question was crafted to see who voters trusted to create jobs and handle the state’s economy. It asked voters to choose between the Democratic Governor and the Republican Legislature. Voters split almost evenly and fell well within the margin of error with 51% favoring the Democratic Governor and 49% favoring the Republican Legislature.  … Predictably, in the partisan demographics Democrats strongly supported the Governor, and Republicans strongly supported the Legislature.  Independents favored the Republican Legislature (58%) to the Democratic Governor (42%).” http://bit.ly/w1ov2K

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — ‘Top House democrat wants new DED offerings,’ MissouriNet: “Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City) points to the states neighboring Missouri [for fresh ideas], all of which he says have angel investment opportunities. Those could be tax credit programs or funds that are typically smaller than some of the economic development programs already in Missouri. … Talboy says there is nothing like what he is talking about currently offered by DED.

“Talboy says just having some new tools for economic development can spur some important discussions by stirring discussion that might not happen without them. … The Department of Economic Development has come under scrutiny by lawmakers investigating a failed project to bring a sucralose plant to Moberly. Talboy says that should not have any impact on discussion of new incentives that department might offer.” http://bit.ly/t6XtnD

INFRASTRUCTURE — ‘Road funds at risk in some states over safety rule,’ AP: “Stuck in a financial pothole, Missouri’s highway department has been selling equipment and eliminating employees to scrounge up enough money to repair its roads. Unless it also changes state law, it could lose tens of millions of federal highway dollars as a penalty for not adopting new safety requirements for commercial truck drivers. … Approximately one-third of states have indicated they may not meet a Jan. 30 deadline for their drivers’ license offices to require interstate truck drivers to provide proof from a medical professional that they are healthy enough to drive … 

“States that fail to comply with the federal mandate could lose 5 percent of their highway funds — about $30 million in Missouri’s case. If they remain out of compliance for a second year, that penalty doubles. But noncompliant states could receive a grace period; as long as they submit a plan to obey the mandate, federal officials have indicated they may not start deducting money until 2014. … Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have complied with the federal licensing requirements, because he objected to an unrelated provision that could have allowed more electronic billboards along state highways. Emails between the Missouri governor’s office and the state highway department show Nixon’s staff knew of Jan. 30 deadline and had been told by department personnel that a waiver was unlikely.” http://usat.ly/sqefYB

LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS — ‘Former Sikeston mayor to run for 148th House seat as ‘Reagan-style’ Republican,’ Scott Moyers: “From Capitol Hill to Sikeston City Hall, Josh Bill has worked in various levels of government. Now, the former Sikeston mayor hopes voters will give him the opportunity to serve once more — this time in Missouri’s House of Representatives in the new 148th District. … Bill cites his diverse governmental background, much of it in Washington, D.C., where he worked for three Republican members of Congress, including the late Bill Emerson. He also worked behind the scenes on various campaigns and for the U.S. Department of Health and Senior Services. Bill also served on the Sikeston City Council for nine years, including the last year as mayor. …  Bill is the only person, Republican or Democrat, to declare his candidacy for the 148th, which covers the eastern part of Scott County and part of Mississippi County.” http://bit.ly/vTRvxl

— Caleb Rowden will run for District 44 State Representative in Columbia, per release: “The state of Missouri is facing some very tough spending decisions as our bloated federal government tries to adjust its habit of overspending.  We must resist the pressures to head down the path of forced programs and mandates, and set a course of sustainable and consistent growth for our state. Our kids and grandkids deserve to be left with something better than the path we’re setting for them now. … Voters need to know you care about them if you ever hope to earn their trust and their vote. I will work tirelessly for the duration of this campaign to ensure every person in the 44th District knows I genuinely care about them, and hope to continue to work hard on their behalf as their State Representative.” 

2012 LEGISLATING — Post-Dispatch editorial doesn’t expect “much” from the General Assembly this year: “The reality of legislative politics is this: Even the most seasoned lawmaker who stands before the photos and thinks real hard would have a difficult time identifying the accomplishments of most of the legislators whose pictures are on the wall, except for those who went on to higher office and made names as a governor or a member of Congress. There’s not much fame in being a state legislator. And that’s too bad, because more than any other level of government, state legislatures deal with matters that affect citizens every day: taxes, roads, licenses for professionals from doctors to barbers, law enforcement, courts. The list goes on. … 

“This year, an election year, too many of Missouri legislators will be focused on getting out of the Legislature, moving on up. On Wednesday, what is known officially as the second regular session of the 96th General Assembly convenes in the Missouri Capitol. Many of the 163 House members and 34 Senators are running for reelection or for higher office. Several lawmakers will be facing off against members of their own party in primaries. What that means for citizens of the state is that expectations for lasting accomplishments in the coming legislative session should be low — very low.” http://bit.ly/rWCN8J