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5 Questions: Sen. Jim Talent on the presidential preference primary

Senator Jim Talent is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies’ National Security 2020 Project.  He is an appointed member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.  Talent represented Missouri in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, serving on the Armed Services Committee in both legislative chambers.

Why will the Missouri primary matter?

It’s important because it can sustain, or hurt, the momentum of the candidates, both here in Missouri and nationally.

Who are you supporting?

Marco Rubio. I believe that Senator Rubio is head and shoulders the strongest of the Republicans on national security issues. I’ve especially appreciated the constant priority he gives to rebuilding America’s military.

Who is the best Republican to match up for Secretary Hillary Clinton?

I think Senator Rubio offers the strongest and most attractive alternative to Clinton; he is definitely best positioned to show the failure of the Obama foreign policy.

What would a Trump candidacy mean for the Missouri statewide races?

Mr. Trump is consistently running behind Secretary Clinton in the national polls, and I have no reason not to believe he would run behind other Republicans in Missouri.

What happens if there is a brokered convention?

It depends on how it is handled. If the various candidates go into the convention willing to put the country first, and clear-eyed about their own strengths and weaknesses, the Party could come out with momentum.