SPRINGFIELD -- Some are calling it nothing more than a beauty contest-- an expensive beauty contest.
Missouri voters on Tuesday can cast a ballot for a presidential nominee, but the results won't count for awarding delegates to the Republican National Convention.
On the Democratic side, President Obama is considered a done deal.
According to the Secretary of State's office, the estimated cost for the election is $7-million.
"Missouri legislature and the governor failed to move the primary from February to March, as directed by the national parties--both parties wanted that--because they felt the primary system was too front loaded toward February," explained Greene County Clerk Bob Struckhoff.
The Republican presidential candidates have paid little attention to the Show-me State, since a caucus, and not voters, will decide the delegates.
Even though some are calling Tuesday's primary nothing more than a beauty contest, political science professor George Conner said there's still an incentive for candidates to come to Missouri.
"Missouri is a microcosm--we have urban areas, we have suburban areas, we have rural areas, we have the racial percentages black, white, hispanic, and so on are roughly parallel to that in the nation, and so if it can sell in Missouri then you can sell that elsewhere."
Whether or not the candidates stump in Missouri, the election will go on.
The Greene County clerk said the cost could be even higher than $7-million.
"Some people have come out publicly and said, 'Well that's just the cost of democracy,' but when the state is $500 million in the hole, and we could have saved $5 to 10 million-- it is tough," said Struckhoff.
Missouri's Republican Party will award delegates to presidential candidates in a caucus held in March.
Missouri voters on Tuesday can cast a ballot for a presidential nominee, but the results won't count for awarding delegates to the Republican National Convention.
On the Democratic side, President Obama is considered a done deal.
According to the Secretary of State's office, the estimated cost for the election is $7-million.
"Missouri legislature and the governor failed to move the primary from February to March, as directed by the national parties--both parties wanted that--because they felt the primary system was too front loaded toward February," explained Greene County Clerk Bob Struckhoff.
The Republican presidential candidates have paid little attention to the Show-me State, since a caucus, and not voters, will decide the delegates.
Even though some are calling Tuesday's primary nothing more than a beauty contest, political science professor George Conner said there's still an incentive for candidates to come to Missouri.
"Missouri is a microcosm--we have urban areas, we have suburban areas, we have rural areas, we have the racial percentages black, white, hispanic, and so on are roughly parallel to that in the nation, and so if it can sell in Missouri then you can sell that elsewhere."
Whether or not the candidates stump in Missouri, the election will go on.
The Greene County clerk said the cost could be even higher than $7-million.
"Some people have come out publicly and said, 'Well that's just the cost of democracy,' but when the state is $500 million in the hole, and we could have saved $5 to 10 million-- it is tough," said Struckhoff.
Missouri's Republican Party will award delegates to presidential candidates in a caucus held in March.
