Nixon 'very interested' in 2008 gubernatorial race

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon said Thursday that he is "very interested" in challenging Republican Gov. Matt Blunt in the 2008 election.

Nixon, in his fourth term as attorney general, had previously left open the possibility of seeking higher office and his comments Thursday were his strongest yet about his political ambitions.

They came during the annual Governor's Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair -- an event that historically has been a must for politicians courting rural voters. The governor always serves as the official host, responsible for welcoming the diners and posing for photos with the state fair queen.

In his first keynote speech at the ham breakfast, Blunt stressed agricultural issues -- his proposal for a statewide ethanol requirement in gasoline, efforts to obtain federal aid for drought-stricken farmers and his opposition to plans for an intentional spring rise on the Missouri River.

He drew general applause, but Merrel Breyer made a point of seeking out Nixon to encourage him to challenge Blunt.

Nixon told the Missouri Cattlemen's Association member, "I'm very interested in looking," at the governor's race, jokingly imploring the questioner "to demand action."

Different priorities, values

Nixon insisted later that the encounter was not staged.

"People like that come up to me across the state all the time," Nixon said, adding that as the senior statewide Democratic elected official he would be well suited for governor.

"I don't want to be overly critical of the governor at this juncture, other than to say the values and priorities I would bring to office would be different than the current incumbent," he said.

Among the differences Nixon cited were Blunt's cuts to the state's Medicaid health-care program and the administration's decision not to send out a corrective letter after one mistakenly told some Medicaid recipients whose benefits were being cut to call a toll-free number in Montana.

Blunt, attending his third ham breakfast as a politician, tried to de-emphasize the political nature of the event, noting that Democrats and Republicans typically mingle in an atmosphere that is "devoid of a lot of partisanship."

But he acknowledged "certainly, it's advantageous to be here."

The only statewide elected official not at the breakfast was Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill, who is weighing whether to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Jim Talent in 2006.

A spokesman for McCaskill said she was in her St. Louis office, and wanted to stay away from the type of questions posed to Nixon.

"She has been trying to avoid putting any more undue attention onto her being approached to run for the Senate," said McCaskill spokesman Glenn Campbell.

McCaskill also stayed away from the 2003 breakfast, when she was weighing a primary challenge to Gov. Bob Holden. But she was at the gathering last year, having just defeated Holden. She ultimately lost to Blunt in the November general election.

Talent campaign signs lined the soggy gravel roads leading to the tent where caterers had prepared a meal of ham, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and hash brown casserole for 700 paid guests.

Talent has not officially announced his candidacy but has built a considerable campaign account. On Thursday, he too was stressing agricultural issues such as his role in inserting ethanol standards into a recently passed federal energy bill.

Like many politicians, Talent is a regular at the ham breakfast. He declined to comment directly on McCaskill's absence, but added it's important to stay in contact with rural constituents.

The political breakfast also doubles as an auction for champion hams, bacon and even a belt buckle. This year's grand champion ham sold for $7,000 -- a considerable sum but still well shy of the $13,000 record set in 1993.

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