Politics

Missouri Senate Race Gets Ugly — Vandals Spray-Paint Swastikas On Hawley Signs

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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Republican Senate candidate Josh Hawley shared a photo Wednesday of a yard sign that had been vandalized. A bright yellow swastika covered his name on the sign.

“Is this really what it’s come to?” he asked.

Hawley, who is currently serving as Missouri Attorney General, said that he came across the doctored yard sign while campaigning in Andrew County, part of the northwestern corner of the state.

Many tried to relate the swastika to comments from President Donald Trump — who has endorsed Hawley — claiming that this was the natural result of him declaring himself a “nationalist.”

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley (L) after arriving in Springfield, Missouri, U.S., September 21, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Segar

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley (L) after arriving in Springfield, Missouri, U.S., September 21, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Segar

At least one Missouri Democrat seemed willing to rally behind Hawley, regardless of party differences. Bruce Franks Jr., who serves in the Missouri House of Representatives, tweeted, “Def don’t agree with that!” (RELATED: Hawley Finally Busts Out Of The Margin Of Error In Missouri Senate Race)

Hawley is barely ahead in polls for the Senate race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill — a race that remains so close that RealClearPolitics is classifying it as a “toss up.” The two will square off in one final debate Thursday evening.

***update***

Sen. McCaskill also weighed in on the vandalized signs, tweeting “I agree. Disgusting.”

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