Profile: 2nd Senate District Republican Primary

This will be the nastiest race in the state this summer. There is no Democrat so the race will be decided in the primary between former state representative and congressional candidate Dr. Bob Onder, former state representative Vicki Schneider, and Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger.

There is no love lost between the candidates. Onder and Gatschenberger are not on good terms at all, and Schneider and Gatschenberger have an ethics complaint over a mailer sent out by Gatschenberger against Schneider in her O’Fallon city council race. Currently Onder is viewed as the frontrunner, but all three have scenarios where they feel they could win under.

Dr. Bob Onder

Receipts: $322,927

Loaned: $200,000

COH: $288,156

Website: onderforsenate.com

Consultant: Victory Enterprises

Notes: A doctor in the St. Charles area who is a former state representative and congressional candidate, he has loaned himself $200,000. A potential statewide candidate someday, his committee even named Onder for Missouri. He is seen as the candidate who has tracked farthest to the right in the race and who is likely to have the most money to spend. He also made a statement by securing the services of Victory Enterprises, squelching rumors and accusations others were running his campaign.

Onder has been on the ground with a grassroots game the longest, and if the race stays positive, he would have the greatest advantage. However, he is likely to be the target of negative ads by Gatschenberger and if his congressional race against Congressman Luetekmeyer is any indication, he will nave no qualms about returning fire. He has the support of House Speaker Tim Jones and a large part of the establishment leaders.

Vicki Schneider

Receipts: $319,628

Loaned: $248,000

COH: $301,430

Website: vote4vickischneider.com

Notes: Schneider is a former state legislator and the owner of a construction company in the O’Fallon area. She could be the candidate who could ultimately be the beneficiary of negative ads between Onder/Gatschenberger. She previously represented a swing district in the House, – that may work against her. She got her signs and billboards out early and has former representative and activist in the western part of the district Cynthia Davis helping run her campaign.

She could also be a candidate that labor could choose to get behind as her construction company employs union labor, and she has a labor friendly voting record, for a Republican, in the house.

It’s likely that the bigger and nastier the fight between Onder and Gatschenberger the better her chances of winning are. However, there is no love lost between her and Gatschenberger either.

Chuck Gatschenberger

Receipts: $338,003

Loaned: $220,000

COH: $ 267,950

Website: www.chuck4mo.com

Consultant: Barklage & Knodell

Notes: Gatschenberger’s claim of an advantage stems from his claim that during his time in the House he has represented 80,000 residents in the current Senate district and he hails from a Republican primary vote-rich area of the 2nd. The 80,000 number is due to the fact that his House district was one of the fastest growing in the state after the 2000 census.

Gatschenbeger jumped out quickly and touts having Senate primary gurus Barklage and Knodell on the race. He has put in a great deal of his own money and some rumored that he would not actually spend the money he loaned the campaign, but a source within his organization claims he is committed to spending those funds on the race.

One trump card may be that Gatschenberger was able to make friends in labor this session when they were under full assault. Labor likes both Gatschenberger and Schneider and to the extent they have been supportive, it makes sense for them to get involved. St. Charles County is pro-union, and this is a district that organized labor could make a statement and attempt to add a crucial pro-labor Republican to the senate.