CBS St. Louis - McCaskill Talks Agriculture, Iran Agreement and Trump

By Kevin Killeen

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill launches a tour of the state's agriculture with a first stop at the Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Couer. She also spoke about the Iran nuclear agreement and Donald Trump.

"I think it's important to remind people that agriculture is not just in the fields," says McCaskill. "It's not just a combine, but it is research. It is the commercialization of research that allows for food security and better yields."

McCaskill also toured the adjacent building called the Bio Research and Development Growth Park or BRDG Park. She says the growth of the plant science industry in St. Louis, "amazing."

She defended the Iran nuclear agreement saying that it won't lead to Iran getting the bomb.

"Well first of all we aren't going to allow the possibility they get the bomb," says McCaskill. "All of our options remain on the table including military options. I think it's important to examine this agreement, not in isolation, but what is the alternative."

McCaskill says if the U.S. alone balks the deal, Iran could retrieve their sanction money with no restrictions on its nuclear program. Congress is expected to vote on the plan in September.

With Donald Trump polling at 25 percent among Republican candidates, McCaskill is also trying to understand his appeal.

McCaskill says that Trump's popularity is hard to explain.

"Well it reminds me a little bit of a demolition derby…I mean…the people who go they're kind of embarrassed by it, but they can't look away," says McCaskill.

She predicts Trump's early lead will fade as more Republicans drop out. A supporter of Hilary Clinton, McCaskill says she still believes Clinton is "the most qualified" person in the race. She adds there's a lot of misinformation surrounding Clinton's email scandal.

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