Josh Hawley bashes Sen. McCaskill during campaign stop in Cape Girardeau

Attorney General Josh Hawley bashed U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill during a campaign visit Friday to Cape Girardeau, portraying her as a Washington, D.C., liberal who is out of touch with the values of Missouri residents.

Hawley, a Republican, is seeking to unseat the Democratic incumbent in the U.S. Senate race.

Speaking to more than 50 supporters at the Standley Batch Systems factory on Aquamsi Street near the Mississippi River, Hawley called McCaskill a �liberal icon.� He said she �refuses to work with President (Donald) Trump.�

On immigration, Hawley said McCaskill �won�t secure the border.�

Hawley told the crowd the senator is �one of the top takers of money from Hollywood� and is the �No. 1 recipient� in the Senate of donations from lawyers and lobbyists.

He vowed, if elected in November, to take on the �D.C. cartel,� which he described as the �elitists who claim to run our country.� He added, �They ignore us.�

Hawley said he subscribes to a different philosophy.

�Faith and service, work and family, that is the heartland way of life,� he said.

He added that way of life is �threatened� by liberals in Washington.

The attorney general said McCaskill is �betting on money� to win re-election. But Hawley argued he can beat her because she �doesn�t represent Missouri.�

Speaking later to reporters, Hawley said he decided to run for Senate even though he has not served a full term as attorney general because of concern that government policies are leading to a �collapse of the middle class.�

As to beleaguered Gov. Eric Greitens, Hawley said �this is a sad situation for our state.�

While he has called on the Republican governor to resign, Hawley said it is up to lawmakers to decide whether Greitens should be impeached.

Hawley also commented on the Missouri Supreme Court�s decision this week to set aside the Sikeston, Missouri, murder conviction of David Robinson because of constitutional violations. The attorney general�s office has 30 days to decide whether to retry Robinson.

�We are reviewing it. We haven�t decided yet,� he told reporters.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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505 Aquamsi St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.