Missouri’s five declared Republican candidates for governor hold similar views on most issues – but not, it seems, on when they all should share the same stage.
The state Republican Party says it tried and failed to reach an agreement with the five on a plan – posed by state party chairman John Hancock – to hold a series of no more than eight Republican-sponsored forums or debates around the state.
Hancock says he proposed the arrangement in response to a flood of requests from various GOP groups around the state eager to host the five gubernatorial candidates on the same stage.
The state party’s aim was to hold a series of up to eight joint appearances to make sure that each part of the state was represented, and to ease the pressures on the five campaigns, who have other things to do besides attend forums.
Last Tuesday marked the first time the five shared a stage, at an event hosted by the Cole County Republicans in Jefferson City.
Hancock emphasized in an interview that his proposal would not have applied to other proposed candidate forums sponsored by media outlets or outside groups, such as business organizations.
Hancock dropped the proposal because not all five candidates had agreed to it by Thursday's deadline
At least four – author Eric Greitens, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, businessman John Brunner and state Sen. Bob Dixon – have told St. Louis Public Radio that they had signed off on Hancock’s plan.
A spokesman for former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway said she supported the idea, but had wanted the party to consider sponsoring more than eight debates.
Dixon praised Hancock’s plan, saying in an interview, “I thought it showed some leadership.”
In any case, the scuttled deal has touched off some sniping, apparently prompted by Friday morning’s statement from the Greitens campaign that implied his rivals failed to agree with Hancock’s plan out of fear of being outshone by Greitens.
“This was a deal that would have guaranteed a set number of debates, equal and fair rules, and allowed the candidates the opportunity to share their message with conservative activists across the state,” Greitens campaign said.
His new campaign manager, Austin Chambers, added, “…After Eric’s strong performance on Tuesday, it’s understandable, but disappointing, that his opponents prefer fewer debates.”
Brunner spokesman Michael Hafner replied, “The Greitens campaign's statement is ridiculous and insincere.”
Several candidates noted that all of them – except Greitens – have agreed to appear together Saturday in Neosho, Mo., and in Parkville, Mo. on Nov. 14. The Butler County Republicans have blasted Greitens on Facebook for skipping their forum in early September; his campaign notes that at the time, he had not yet declared his candidacy.
Said Hanaway spokesman Nick Maddux: “I would ask Team Greitens why they are skipping these forums. Catherine is ready to debate in all venues and in all corners of Missouri where two or more are gathered.”
Kinder’s reply was bit more subtle. After listing the forums he has or will attend, the lieutenant governor’s campaign said, “We hope that other candidates can find time in their schedules to join us at these events and discuss the real issues that impact Missouri voters.”
Greitens' campaign offered more details Saturday, explaining that he was missing the Neosho event because he was attending the annual Mission Continues Veterans Day Gala, scheduled some time ago. Greitens is the founder of the organization, Missouri Continues.
Greitens cannot attend the Parkville event because he's the keynote speaker at the 2015 Marine Corps Ball in Cape Girardeau.
"We look forward to attending many more of these debates in the future," a spokesman said. "Scheduling is just another example of why the party's plan was a great one - they were going to work around every candidates schedule to have debates that every one could attend. Of course, that type of planning doesn't happen with these small forums."
It appears that the five are unlikely to appear together until Dec. 6, when all have committed to attending a Missouri Farm Bureau forum, to be held at Lake of the Ozarks.
