This week, the Politically Speaking podcast  brings prominent GOP consultant Jeff Roe to the show. He joins St. Louis Public Radio reporters Jo Mannies, Chris McDaniel and Jason Rosenbaum.

Based in Kansas City, Roe is among the top Republican consultants in the Midwest – and is headed toward a national reputation.  Only in his early 40s, he operates the fourth-largest GOP direct-mail firm in the country. He's expected to land at least one Republican presidential candidate in 2016.

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Roe began his career with now-U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio – then in the Missouri House -- and his firm, Axiom Strategies, has handled campaigns for  a host of congressional members or contenders in various states.

In Missouri, Roe’s clients have included U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; Jason Smith, R-Salem; and Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Louis. He also did work for lawyer Bill Corrigan, who made an unsuccessful bid for St. Louis County executive in 2010. He also represents some major corporations.

Roe observed:

• Democrats have ceded much of rural America by promoting candidates that no longer espouse conservative cultural values – on abortion, gay rights, guns and religion --  that rural voters share.
• This year will be a strong Republican year, and Roe is optimistic about the GOP chances of taking over the U.S. Senate and expanding its majority in the U.S. House.
• He’s proud of being described as a “bare-knuckled’’ consultant: “I believe politics is really a contact sport.”
• Despite the growth of social media, Roe says that the campaign mailers that land in people’s mailboxes remain one of the best ways to reach voters. Why? “We know they have to touch it."

Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel

Follow Jo Mannies on Twitter: @jmannies

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Jeff Roe on Twitter: @AxiomStrategies

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