Brunner, and his Republican opponents, are keeping their preference for their party's presidential nomintee to themselves. (AP Photo via DayLife)
— With an unsettled field of Republican presidential candidates, Missouri’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates are staying quiet about who they voted for in Tuesday’s non-binding selection primary.
Representatives for U.S. Rep. Todd Akin and St. Louis businessman John Brunner’s campaigns confirmed to PoliticMo that the two did in fact vote in the primary, but neither would disclose for whom they voted.
“He will be keeping his vote to himself,” said a spokesman for Brunner. The same was echoed by Akin’s spokesman.
Even though they won’t endorse, both campaigns made a point to have a presence at Sen. Rick Santorum’s election night watch party in St. Charles Tuesday evening. Campaign volunteers for Brunner and Akin were on hand to distribute campaign literature to attendees, and stuck around throughout Santorum’s rally.
“Any large gathering of Republican primary voters is a good opportunity to spread your message,” said Akin spokesman Ryan Hite.
Brunner’s campaign said they, too, hope to have high profiles at events where there are likely to be primary voters, even if their candidate has not endorsed.
“John Brunner is convinced that whoever wins the Republican presidential nomination will be a far better president than Barack Obama has been,” said Brunner spokesman Todd Abrajano.
Former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman’s campaign did not have a presence in St. Charles Tuesday night, and her campaign was not immediately responsive to inquiries questioning whether she voted in Tuesday’s primary.
The trio’s mutual opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, said late last year that “of course” she endorses President Obama for reelection.
email: eli [at] politicmo.com | phone: 417.597.3873 | twitter: @eyokley 
