First TV campaign spot rolls in Missouri governor's race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In a sign that the political season is in full swing, the first television campaign commercials in the Missouri governor's race began airing Tuesday.

Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's campaign began running two ads, which promote Holden's efforts to protect education and health-care funding.

The ads use images of speeches from the House chamber by both Republican House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and Holden in his State of the State address.

One ad, titled "Holding Firm," decries Republican legislative efforts to rein in Medicaid spending and pass an education budget smaller than Holden proposed last year. The ad says Holden's efforts preserved funding for schools and health insurance for poor children.

"Governor Holden faces belligerent Republican attacks. ... But Governor Holden stands his ground," the ad states.

But his Democratic primary opponent, State Auditor Claire McCaskill, questioned the claims.

McCaskill's campaign noted that, after unsuccessful special sessions to raise taxes for schools, Holden signed the legislators' education budget in 2003, and the budget passed this spring actually provides slightly more money for schools than Holden proposed. Her campaign also noted that Holden proposed setting an asset limit in the state's health insurance program for children, an idea lawmakers rejected.

McCaskill's campaign also questioned the timing of Holden's release of money withheld from public schools. Holden announced that money was available and could be released this spring, just days after more than 100 school districts held elections asking voters to raise local taxes.

"Quite frankly, he lost the battles that he is now taking credit for winning," McCaskill spokesman Glenn Campbell said.

The expected Republican candidate is Secretary of State Matt Blunt.

McCaskill and Blunt have not yet aired any campaign ads, but McCaskill plans to begin in another week or two. Blunt has no major primary opposition.

Holden campaign spokesman Caleb Weaver said the ads began airing Tuesday morning in several markets, but would not say exactly where they're airing, for how long or what the ads cost.

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On the Net:

Blunt: http://www.mattblunt.com

Holden: http://www.governorholden.com

McCaskill: http://www.claireonline.com