This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 7, 2012 - U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., may have upstaged her own re-election kickoff when she told a reporter in Columbia, Mo., that she voted for Amendment 2, the so-called “prayer amendment.”
Supporters say the amendment to the state constitution protects those who wish to pray in public and private. Critics say the amendment mirrors current constitutional language but includes other provisions that could restrict the religious rights of prisoners and allow students to use religion to opt out of class assignments.
But opinion polls have signaled it will pass easily.
McCaskill had voted early Tuesday morning in Kirkwood, where she resides, but said nothing to reporters at the time about how she voted.
But a few hours later, her brief affirmative response to a public-radio reporter in Columbia touched off a flurry of social-media buzz.
Her campaign confirmed that McCaskill did vote in favor of Amendment 2. No details were provided.
McCaskill plans to kick off her re-election campaign Wednesday morning in Kansas City. She might want to prepare a more detailed explanation about her vote on Amendment 2, since she is likely to be peppered with questions about it.
