MO-Sen: RNC to start spending money for Hawley prior to primary

Although there is a contested primary in Missouri to determine which GOP candidate will run against incumbent Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) this fall, the Republican National Committee is opening its coffers to help out the state party's front-runner.

Is that a thing?

Yeah. And it's not against the rules. Since the state GOP gave the go-ahead, the RNC can now help out likely nominee and Missouri's current Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) in what is expected to be one of the most expensive races in the U.S. midterm elections.

Missouri Republican Party spokesman Chris Nuelle told The Kansas City Star, "President Trump has endorsed Josh Hawley, and as was the case in 2006 and 2010, the MOGOP Executive Committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of our leadership signing a letter authorizing the RNC to spend on Hawley's behalf before the primary."

So what?

Not everyone is happy with the decision.

While the vote was 12-1, the single dissenter on the committee was Mark Anthony Jones of Jackson County — and he spoke his mind.

"If you're picking winners and losers before the primary vote, you're doing so without the grassroots voice. And that was my objection," Jones said of the move.

"They pretend like there's no primary," he added.

Besides attorney general, there are 10 other Republican contenders in the upcoming primary on Aug. 7. With such a crowded field, Hawley spokeswoman Kelli Ford reminded voters that "In 2012, Missouri Republicans failed to beat Claire McCaskill because the party failed to unite and choose a good candidate. No Missouri Republican wants that to happen again."

But another candidate, Austin Petersen, has shown strong polling and grassroots support.

Speaking to Ben Shapiro's The Daily Wire, Petersen had strong words about his opponent: "Hawley's going to get into a battle of wits with Claire McCaskill unarmed. He's going to have a lot of problems with the grass roots now that they've alienated people that they've alienated by the way that they've strong-armed them, as well as voters, in this primary."