Blunt endorses attorney general candidate
Published Oct. 19, 2007
The sole GOP candidate for the 2008 race for Missouri attorney general was endorsed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Matt Blunt.
Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, who announced his decision to run for attorney general Oct. 13, was praised by Blunt in a news release for his leadership experience as a member of the state senate.
"Sen. Gibbons is an experienced leader with a strong record of fighting for the safety of our families," Blunt stated in the release. "As the highest ranking member of the Missouri Senate, Sen. Gibbons proved his tremendous leadership qualities again and again, working with legislators on both sides of the aisle."
Gibbons said he wants to work with law enforcement agencies to protect Missouri families and would use his available resources to enforce state and national immigration laws. He said he would refuse any contributions made to his campaign through parties that are under investigation by the attorney general's office.
According to reports submitted by Gibbon's campaign to the Missouri Ethics Commission, the senator has more than $220,000 available for use in his campaign. The largest contributions made to the campaign thus far have come from Republican Party committees in Missouri legislative districts.
U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, who had considered entering the race, publicly announced on Oct. 11 that she would not run, leaving Gibbons to run for the Republican nomination unopposed.
Democrats currently seeking nomination in the race are Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia; Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, who changed his party affiliation to Democrat in August.
The candidates seek to replace four-term attorney general Jay Nixon, who is running for the office of governor in 2008.
Missouri Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca said a single Republican candidate running for the office is indicative of cohesiveness within the party, while the Democrats are showing division.
"It's good that the Republican Party is very united," Sloca said.
Sloca called Gibbons a "top-notch" candidate. He said Gibbons could bring integrity to the position, which Sloca said is "lacking" under the current direction of Nixon.