Kinder Endorses Hulshof for Governor

By Tony Messenger, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jul. 15–JEFFERSON CITY — Four years ago, Kenny Hulshof put his ambition aside and cheered on another up-and-coming Republican who sought to be governor.

The Ninth District congressman agreed to forego his own planned run and backed Matt Blunt in his successful campaign for the state’s top elected prize.

Now, Hulshof is hoping a similar gambit works in his favor.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced his endorsement of Hulshof’s gubernatorial campaign Monday. The move had been forecast back in February, when Kinder decided party unity was more important than his ambition and put the skids on a run for governor.

Now Kinder and other party leaders are lining up behind Hulshof in his attempt to defeat state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the Republican primary for governor.

“Peter’s roots are deep in the Republican establishment down here,” Hulshof said Monday from southeast Missouri, where he was campaigning.

Hulshof was born in that area but spent his political career representing mid-Missouri. He said having Kinder support him in southeast Missouri was as important as having U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt’s support in GOP-rich southwest Missouri.

“I was hoping Peter would be public in his support, and I appreciate it,” Hulshof said. “This is someone who himself is on the ballot and wants the strongest top of the ticket possible.”

Kinder is running for re-election and likely will face state Rep. Sam Page, D-Creve Coeur, in the general election.

Kinder said he believes Hulshof is better suited to take on Attorney General Jay Nixon, the presumptive Democratic nominee who is leading either Hulshof or Steelman, according to a recent Post-Dispatch poll.

Hulshof is the candidate “best able to take the game to the other team,” Kinder said.

The Steelman campaign brushed off the Kinder endorsement as part of its continuing strategy to paint Hulshof as a Washington insider.

“Republican primary voters will decide who wins this race. Not party bosses,” Steelman spokesman Spence Jackson said.

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