By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Missouri US Sen. Eric Schmitt is closely watching the crowded field running for the Republican nomination for President.
Schmitt says during a visit to St. Joseph it's important through this whole season to find a President who puts America first.
"My position on that is we don't have one right now and we had that under President Trump, I'm supporting him, but there's no reason that worldwide we should have been declaring war on domestic energy production, we have all the energy we need right here under our feet in the United States of America it's a national security issue, it's also driving inflation and I think the spending is out of control in Washington," Schmitt tells reporters. "So, I think people that are speaking to that."
A talking point after the first debate last week was former President Trump not participating.
Schmitt has no issue with Trump not taking part.
"I think he's the clear frontrunner, he's going to be the nominated, I support hm and I think he's going to be the next President," Schmitt says.
Schmitt adds we need a President who will listen to the real concerns of Missourians.
"If you want to understand what's really going on in the country, you come here, because we're common sense folks and they understand that every time they go to the grocery store its painful, I mean the average family is paying $10,000 more a year now for the same things they were paying for two years ago," Schmitt explains. "So, we've got to get that under control, so I think the candidates that speak to that are going to be viewed favorably."
While Schmitt voices his support for former President Donald Trump, he says that for Republicans to win back the White House, people need to address the record of President Joe Biden, including his economic record.
"It's like trying to jedi mind trick, I mean people understand what's happening on the ground their lives are tougher, working families its tougher for them, and it's all happened in the last two years," Schmitt points out. "We have a border that's unsecure, he's declared war on domestic energy production, he's censoring Americans, I mean this is a pretty radical administration and I think we've got to get back to a place where people are working and making more money and things are less expensive, we're exporting more energy, that's what I mean by America First policies."
Schmitt says those policies are ones he feels Trump has a strong stance on which is why Schmitt views the former President as the clear frontrunner.
The next Republican presidential primary debate will be held late next month in California.