Did the Wagner Campaign Forget It Has a Primary Opponent?

According to her primary opponent, Randy Jotte, it seems Ann Wagner's campaign forgot she has an opponent in the primary — an oversight the campaign acknowledged, blaming a fundraising worker in Washington, DC.

Jotte, of Webster Groves, forwarded Patch a Feb. 8 email from one of Wagner's campaign team members regarding Wagner's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. The email reads in part:

I wanted to see if you are available to help Ann Wagner out on her next trip to DC – we have a few events as well as 1-1 coffee times available. Her primary opponent got out of the race last month and along with her excellent fundraising numbers from last quarter has put Ann in a great spot to win this seat for MO-02. She has over $1 million cash on hand and has raised $1.365 million since she filed last April.  

ANN is running for the Todd Akin open-seat and has NO primary opposition. This is a GREAT race to get in on early!

“True leaders are accountable for their own actions, as well as the actions of the staff who represent the, Jotte said in a statement. "This email is either a gross lack of accountability or outright deception. Either way, it's more of the same politics as usual." 

Jotte said the Wagner campaign has been aware of his .

Aaron Willard, Wagner's campaign manager, said the person helping with fundraising efforts in Washington was unaware there was another Republican candidate in the race.

"Alice (Perry) was under the impression Mr. Jotte was going to run as an Independent as he has before when he repudiated the Republican Party in Ohio,” he said.