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Schweich dealing with 'personal process' as he ponders bid for U.S. Senate

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 15, 2012 - Missouri state Auditor Tom Schweich says he’s focusing for the next few days on helping Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

But Schweich acknowledges that he has a looming decision of his own to make: Does he jump into Missouri’s U.S. Senate contest?

“It’s a very personal process I’m going through,’’ said Schweich, during a brief interview Wednesday as he and his wife left Romney’s campaign headquarters in Clayton.

Schweich is getting a lot of encouragement from a number of high-profile Republicans, led by former Sen. John C. Danforth, R-Mo., who see the auditor as the only candidate with a chance of defeating U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

Although their open letter -- made public a few days ago -- doesn’t mention names, their inference is that they don’t have confidence in the chances of the current three major Republican contenders – former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, St. Louis businessman John Brunner and U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood.

Akin has lambasted Danforth over the letter.

Schweich declined comment about the furor, saying only that he has a limited time to make his decision: “Filing closes in 12 days.”

By 5 p.m. on March 27, Schweich will have had to make up his mind.

Jo Mannies is a freelance journalist and former political reporter at St. Louis Public Radio.