Democrat Koster wins Missouri Farm Bureau endorsement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster secured a major endorsement Friday for his gubernatorial campaign, becoming the first Democratic statewide candidate to win the backing of one of the state's most formidable agricultural organizations.

Members of the Missouri Farm Bureau's political action committee voted to endorse Koster after listening to back-to-back presentations from him and Republican gubernatorial nominee Eric Greitens.

Koster and Greitens won primaries Tuesday, and the Farm Bureau event has become a traditional kickoff for Missouri's general election campaign. Until Koster, the group had never backed a statewide Democratic candidate in its 40 years of making endorsements.

The Farm Bureau's endorsement process differs from many others, because candidates make their pitch in a forum open to the media.

Koster, who switched from the Republican to Democratic party while serving as a state senator in 2007, appealed to the group by rattling off about a dozen ways he has sided with agricultural interests over his career. He touted what he described as a perfect Farm Bureau voting record as a lawmaker and said farmers would be gambling if they were to go with political newcomer Greitens.

Koster said he would ask Department of Agriculture director Richard Fordyce to remain on the job and release money Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has withheld for biodiesel plant subsidies and international marketing of agricultural products. He also pledged to create a partnership between the state's agricultural and economic development agencies and to work with various agricultural interests to develop a consensus agenda in advance of each legislative session.

"I can bring Republicans and Democrats together around this issue in a way that we haven't seen in decades," Koster said.

He won the endorsement with a 76-percent vote, well over the group's required two-thirds majority.

Greitens acknowledged he had no rural background but told Farm Bureau members he would put together a team that understands agriculture and consider reappointing Fordyce. He drew applause as he declared "I am pro-life," pledged to support gun rights, ban lobbyist gifts to officials and "stand up for our law enforcement officers."

During their presentations, the candidates differed on how to improve the state's roads and bridges.

Greitens said it was first necessary to "rebuild trust" in government by squeezing savings from agencies and making Missouri's expenses more transparent.

Koster said that amounted to nothing more than "cotton candy answers," and he would work with lawmakers to come up with a plan to raise taxes for transportation.

Both candidates were put on the defensive by questions.

Koster defended his support for expanding Medicaid under President Barack Obama's health-care law, saying it would bring in billions of federal dollars that could prevent the closure of additional rural hospitals.

"We may not like the way the Affordable Care Act was passed, but if it is here to stay, then we should hold our nose and take the damn money," Koster said.

Greitens defended his high-dollar, out-of-state campaign donations, including a nearly $2 million donation from SEALs for Truth that was the largest single contribution to a Missouri candidate. The group has yet to reveal the source of its money and isn't required to do so under campaign-finance laws until later this year.

Greitens said he believes the group is complying with the law, adding: "I'm honored to have my fellow SEALS standing behind me." He said many other out-of-state donors to his campaign had previously supported The Mission Continues, a not-for-profit group Greitens founded to help military veterans get involved in volunteer service.

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