Lodes Says He Is Running for US Senate; Wants Debate Invitation

Mark Lodes (Submitted Photo)

By: Monte Schisler, News Director
Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

A man from the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson says he wants an invitation to debate later this month with the Republican candidates for US Senate, even though his opponents and a spokesman for the state GOP office say they haven’t heard of him, or seen him on the campaign trail.

Mark Lodes (lodus) says he’s running for US Senate and has taken his message online, starting a webpage and asking for donations. He admits he hasn’t filled out any campaign finance reports, telling HometownDailyNews.com he didn’t know Tuesday was the deadline for the most recent quarter.

Lodes says he hopes to take the stage with Todd Akin, Sarah Steelman and John Brunner February 18^th at Lincoln Days in Kansas City - but he hasn’t yet been asked.

Mark Lodes 2012A232

Earlier this week Lodes took to the internet, complaining on Twitter that he wasn’t invited to the Conversation with the Candidates held at BransonHigh School, and hosted by Earls Family Broadcasting and Hometown Radio.

When asked if Lodes would be invited to the Lincoln Days Debate in two weeks, a spokesman for the State Republican Party said he would have to look into it, and had no other comment.

Filing for office starts February 28^th.

=====(2^nd Version)=====

Mark Lodes says he’s running for US Senate, even though the three other announced candidates for the August primary say they’ve never heard of him, or seen him on the campaign trail.

Lodes is from the St. Louis suburb of Fergusonand is hoping for an invitation to a debate later this month at Lincoln Days inKansas City. He complained earlier this week on Twitter that he wasn’t invited to the Conversation with the Candidates at BransonHigh School.

Lodes tells HometownDailyNews.com he should be taken seriously, even though he has no name recognition, doesn’t have a paid staff, and hasn’t done any real campaigning other than a website he created several weeks ago.

Mark Lodes 2012A233

Lodes has not filled out any campaign finance reports, and admitted that he didn’t know Tuesday was the deadline for the most recent quarter. Official filing for office begins February 28^th, and he says he’ll submit the proper paperwork to get his name on the August ballot.

A spokesman for the State Republican Party Office offered no comment.

=====(3^rd Version)=====

Add another name to the list of Republican candidates for US Senate from Missouri. Mark Lodes from the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson says he wants the opportunity to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in the November General Election.

Lodes tells HometownDailyNews.com he plans to file for office when the process opens February 28^th. He says he has a zero budget, with no paid staff, and is collecting 5-dollar donations through his campaign website. Lodes calls himself an underdog, and isn’t your typical candidate:

Mark Lodes 2012A234

The other three announced Republican candidates say they haven’t heard of Lodes and haven’t seen him on the campaign trail.

Lodes is hoping for an invitation to a Republican Debate later this month at the party’s Lincoln Days Convention in Kansas City. A State GOP spokesman says he would have to look into the request, offering no other comment. Lodes complained online earlier this week when he wasn’t invited to The Conversation with the Candidates at Branson High School, hosted by Earls Family Broadcasting and Hometown Radio.

=====(4^th Version)=====

Mark Lodes says he’s running for US Senate, even though the three other announced candidates for the August primary say they’ve never heard of him, or seen him on the campaign trail.

Lodes is from the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson and is hoping for an invitation to a debate later this month at Lincoln Days in Kansas City. He complained earlier this week on Twitter that he wasn’t invited to the Conversation with the Candidates at Branson High School.

Comments (1) - comment on this story

Mark Lodes - 05/05/2012 12:56:11 PM

I've filed. My name is on the ballot. I'm campaigning. My staff is all volunteer. I'm taking donations at my website www.markforsenate.org and I look forward to the opportunity to debate. All of my opponents are being dishonest. They have heard of me and are ignoring me because they fear me.