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ST. LOUIS COUNTY The hopes of the three Republicans vying to become the first GOP county executive in nearly a quarter-century may hinge on how bruising the Democratic primary turns out to be, experts said Tuesday after the field was set for the Aug. 5 election.

Political observers and strategists believe the ultimate electability of state Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood, Green Park Alderman Tony Pousosa and Ellisville City Councilman Matt Pirrello could rest on the damage inflicted in the Democratic primary by County Councilman Steve Stenger and incumbent Charlie Dooley, who have already begun sparring.

Ideally, Republicans say, the winner of the Democratic primary will emerge as a politically battered candidate with a depleted treasury.

When there is a contentious primary on one side, said Republican strategist John Hancock, the side that doesnt have a contentious primary wins.

The short turnaround between the primary and November general election could force a Democrat politically wounded in August to struggle to find his footing in the fall campaign, Hancock added.

Pointing to controversies in the Dooley administration, including an FBI investigation into a police board appointee, and unhappiness in Stengers district over a senior housing complex, state Republican chairman Ed Martin contends both would be vulnerable even without a primary.

The demographics are always tough in St. Louis County, but I think this is a really good opportunity, Martin said.

A Republican last occupied the office of county executive in 1991.

Republicans acknowledge that the numbers in a county that delivered solid majorities to Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012 favor the Democratic county executive nominee in the November general election.

Moreover, notes Jane Dueker, a Stenger supporter and former chief of staff to Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, what the Republicans forget is that they have their own primary.

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Republicans hope Dooley-Stenger showdown will pay a GOP dividend

A lesson for Iowa politicians: Never belittle farmers, especially Iowa farmers.

Thats a lesson Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, whos running for Senate in the state, is learning the hard way, as Republicans continue to hit back against his comments about Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa).

The conservative America Rising PAC posted a video Tuesday of Mr. Braley addressing a group of lawyers at a Texas fundraiser, in which he derided Sen. Grassley as a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school [and] never practiced law.

Mr. Braley apologized for his remarks Tuesday afternoon, but Republicans are, well, making hay while the sun still shines. Mark Jacobs, the Republican businessman Mr. Braley will likely face in Novembers election, released a statewide radio ad Wednesday asking why the congressman would insult Sen. Grassley and all the hardworking Iowans who make their living off the land. Mr. Jacobs website adds: Bruce Braley thinks hes too good for Iowa and too good for Iowa farmers.

Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst, whos also vying for the Republican nomination in the Senate race, got in on the action, too. Bruce Braley thinks the way to suck up to Texas trial lawyers is by bashing Iowa farmers, she said in a statement. How out of touch with Iowa can you be?

She called on Mr. Braley to apologize to Mr. Grassley and every other farmer in Iowa. (Ms. Ernst separately made a splash Tuesday when she released an ad entitled Squeal in which she says, I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm, so when I get to Washington, Ill know how to cut pork.)

On Wednesday, the Braley campaign struck back at Mr. Jacobs. In a press release, the campaign said Mr. Braley grew up in rural Iowa and worked on Iowa farms, and as a congressman has kept fighting for Iowa farmers and agriculture. The campaign said Mr. Jacobs has been calling for the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, advocating for a return to his glory days on Wall Street.

Iowa is one of worst states to be a politician caught making digs at farmers. According to preliminary results of the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Iowa has the third-highest number of farms of any state in the U.S.

Mr. Braley, whos running to succeed retiring Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, held a double-digit lead over most of his likely Republican challengers, according to a Quinnipiac poll earlier this month. Mr. Jacobs trailed by nine percentage points in that poll.

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Republicans Continue Bashing Braley Over His Grassley Remark

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Sen. Wendy Davis spoke at Scholz Garten on Monday, March 24,...

Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis' latest spate of attacks on state Attorney General Greg Abbott has Austin Republicans a little baffled.

At issue is equal pay legislation that Gov. Rick Perry vetoed last year. Abbott says he supports equal pay but also would have vetoed the bill as it overlaps with federal legislation on the issue. Davis has criticized his stance, and those criticisms were fueled by a San Antonio Express-News report that female assistant attorneys general in Texas are paid less on average than their male counterparts.

"Act like a Texan, Greg Abbott, and answer this question for yourself: What on earth is going on in your attorney general's office?" Davis said, per the Texas Tribune.

Behind the scenes, Davis onslaught hasnt proven too discomfiting to state Republicans. Some say that by pressing the issue this early in the game more than seven months before the general election Davis may have reduced its impact. One Republican insider says this line of attack would have done more damage to Abbott if it came up in September or October. As it stands, he says Republicans have ample time to plan rejoinders and counter Democrats messaging.

But thats not to say Republicans feel the charges are unserious. One Austin Republican consultant says the campaign is highly aware of the potential for gender optics to become problematic.

Abbott's people know they've got to do something to dispel the Democratic notion that there's some sort of war on women in Texas, he says.

So Republicans are certainly a little jittery.

The entire Republican Party of Texas is on high alert right now, says another Austin consultant. They're very concerned about Battleground Texas and Wendy Davis and the elections. They're not taking anything for granted. Every issue that comes up, it will seem like there's a panic about it.

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Republicans jittery about Wendy Davis' equal pay attacks in Texas governor's race

Women #39;s History Month - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) celebrates Women #39;s History Month by spotlighting Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress.

By: House Republicans

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Women's History Month - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) - Video

Controversial DOJ Nominee Shot Down As Senate Dems Republicans Unite - The Kelly File
Controversial DOJ Nominee Shot Down As Senate Dems Republicans Unite - The Kelly File = Below t.

By: World History News

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Controversial DOJ Nominee Shot Down As Senate Dems & Republicans Unite - The Kelly File - Video