Important election awaits us Tuesday

Tuesday is an important election day for the voters of the 8th Congressional district and yet, I suspect turnout will be extremely low. And when I say extremely low, I mean somewhere around 10 percent.

Given the polarization and division in Washington, D.C., you would think the importance of this election would motivate a large turnout.

But it won't.

Voters will choose from two major party candidates along with two write-in candidates and representatives from the Libertarian and Constitution parties.

But the reality is that Democrat Steve Hodges and Republican Jason Smith are the sole viable candidates despite some very common sense views expressed by the lesser candidates.

Were there oddsmakers, Smith would have to be considered the favorite given the substantial GOP make-up of the district.

But way back in 1980, first-time candidate Bill Emerson upset incumbent Democrat Bill Burlison in a district overwhelmingly Democratic.

So stranger things have happened.

What disappoints me is that the Hodges-Smith face-off turned very negative toward the end of the campaign. I don't blame the candidates as much as I blame their handlers and those who design their campaign materials and talking points.

Why go negative when either candidate can stand on their own unique qualifications?

Those political types who manage campaigns will tell you that voters respond to negative advertising and that's why they slink into the mud far too often.

Well I don't buy that.

If you paid attention to the Smith campaign, you would assume he is running against Pelosi-Obama-Reid and all those who conservatives believe are evil.

But he's running against a small business owner from East Prairie who is about as conservative as they come.

And the Hodges campaign has painted Smith as wanting to end Social Security and throw granny under the bus.

Neither charge is remotely accurate from either campaign.

At this point, it matters little.

If, in fact, voters respond to negative campaigns, then shame on us!

All I hope for is a conservative voice who will oppose the expansion of big government and assure the freedoms that we hold dear.

In Tuesday's election, I feel comfortable that we'll get that outcome regardless of who wins.