Lager launches ads in Missouri lieutenant governor primary

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri state Sen. Brad Lager has begun running TV and radio ads criticizing Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as he seeks to unseat the incumbent in a Republican primary.

Lager's campaign launched the ads Wednesday highlighting Kinder's repayment to the state of more than $54,000 last year to cover in-state hotel expenses. That payment came after media reports that Kinder's hotel stays sometimes coincided with social events. Kinder said he also had conducted state business.

In the ads, Lager asserts that he is "the real conservative for lieutenant governor."

Kinder campaign manager Logan Thompson described the ads as "false personal attacks" that he would expect from a Democrat, not a fellow Republican.

Kinder had planned to run for governor before deciding last fall to seek re-election to a third term.