Millay is On the Road Again

Millay bests primary opponent, launches active campaign

By Thomas Knapp

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Missouri is getting what may be its most active Libertarian campaign for U.S. Senate ever.

On August 6th, Tamara Millay won in the primary to be selected as the LP's 2002 Senate nominee, beating Edward James Manley III. The real news on the primary is not that she won, but that LP primary participation more than doubled from 1998, the last "off-year" Senate contest. In 1998, 1598 Missourian cast Libertarian primary ballots. This year, 3,271 did.

Millay is hoping to manage an even better performance in the general election. If the same trends as prevailed in 1998 play this time, she can expect to receive about 63,000 votes in the general election, versus her 32,000 in the 1998 race.

But this year, she isn't sitting still. In 1998, she gave birth to Daniel, her eldest son, in August, limiting her ability to actively campaign. This year, she's already made appearances across the state, campaigning in St. Louis, St. Charles, Troy, Belton, Dixon, Marshfield, Fair Grove, Sedalia and Columbia -- and the race has just begun. As her campaign manager, I've set a minimum goal of 126,000 votes, 5% of the projected ballots cast. And I think we will surpass even that.

In 1998, television coverage was non-existent. This year, she's already appeared on news programs in Kansas City and St. Louis.

In 1998, the papers paid no attention. This year, the Kansas City Star endorsed her in the primary, albeit in a backhanded way, holding that Libertarians are "indifferent to the fundamental responsibilities of government" (a subject with which the Star seems unfamiliar, holding that anything anyone might happen to want is such a "fundamental responsibility"). The St. Louis Post Dispatch gave her prominent coverage in its primary voter guide, in some editions even better than that accorded the "major party" candidates.

Millay has also been invited to two debates -- an Associated Press forum in Columbia and a televised debate in Springfield -- and is fighting to be included in a third, a televised, tax-subsidized affair in Cape Girardeau.

Future campaign plans include visits to Springfield, Columbia, Kansas City, Houston, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau and anywhere else that Missouri's voters can be reached.

For more information on Tamara's campaign, visit the web site at www.tamaramillay.org