Gephardt's district is going to elect another Dem, and comfortably. His district was redrawn to take it out of the mix, to the extent it was, which it wasn't. That is NOT why Gephardt retired. He retired, because he gave up the minority leader position, and ex speakers/minority leaders don't hang around.
Maybe. The 'Rat primary for the seat is fun to watch, might turn into a bit of a bloodbath along the Holden-McCaskill faultline. Handily? Hmm, I might take a piece of that action, depending on who the 'Rat candidate turns out to be. Enz is running for State Senate this time around (and she'll win in a canter), so the best candidate isn't available (and, brother, is she sore at the local party bigwigs!) nor is it clear if Akin's people will sit on their hands as they did in 2002. If they do, ''handily'' is likely operative, if not, it's too close to wager on at this point. Too many ''ifs'' still on the board.
Have it your own way about Eyebrows' retirement; I daresay talking to a few of the local pols around here would change your mind straightaway.