Election Day 2012 is just under a year away, and there’s still no major Republican challenger to Democrat Jay Nixon in next year’s Missouri Governor’s race.
GOP Lt. Governor Peter Kinder still has not announced his intentions, despite raising over a million dollars for a potential gubernatorial run. Dave Robertson is a political science professor at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He says allegations about Kinder’s past visits to a strip club may have harmed his ability to financially keep pace with Nixon.
“When Republicans seem pretty motivated to vote nationally, you would think that a candidate in a position like Peter Kinder would have raised more money," Robertson said.
Nixon has raised more than $4 million so far for his re-election bid. Robertson, meanwhile, says Kinder’s delay in announcing does not necessarily hurt his chances.
“You can build an organization without formally announcing your candidacy," Robertson said. "(Kinder has) been able to put some time between those revelations that raised questions about him.”
St. Louis businessman Dave Spence is considering seeking the GOP nomination for Governor – and some Republicans are hoping that Ed Martin pulls out of the Second Congressional district race and instead runs for either Governor or Attorney General. Robertson says Kinder would still be a formidable contender if any other Republicans decide to challenge him.
