MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon plans to run for governor in 2008. Nixon filed his campaign finance report on Oct. 31, and will officially file for office in March 2008.
Chuck Hatfield, treasurer of the Nixon for governor campaign, said Nixon is starting early because he wants to comply with campaign finance laws that require a state official to show reports when they are raising money for candidacy.
Hatfield said Nixon's platform will be based on leadership. "The issue is really do we have someone in the governor's office who is able to articulate what he wants to do and why and get the support of the people. All of the polling data right now shows that we don't have the leadership."
As of July 30 Nixon had raised more than $180,000 for his campaign. Gov. Blunt has reported over $900,000 on hand as of the end of September.
John Hancock, spokesperson for the Missouri Republican Party, said he is not surprised by Nixon's plans. "For months now he has not been doing the job of the attorney general, he has given countless number of cases away to taxpayer funded private lawyers instead of doing them himself."
Hancock said he has no doubt that Gov. Blunt will be reelected in 2008.
"Jay Nixon's perspective is the old way, spend money you don't have, tax the public beyond their desire and govern irresponsibly, it is the old way that state government was run under the previous administration and that's about the only thing Jay Nixon has to offers to the voters."
Nixon was elected last year and is serving his fourth year as attorney general. Before elected in 1992 Nixon served six years in the state Senate.
Blunt was elected as governor last November beating Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill. He served two years as a representative in the General Assembly and four years as secretary of state.