Republican AG candidate visits Cape

Ed Martin, who announced his intentions last month to run for Missouri attorney general, made a stop in Cape Girardeau on Thursday to host an hourlong discussion with fellow Republicans that largely centered on President Barack Obama's health care law.

Martin, the St. Louis lawyer who dropped a congressional campaign to run against Democrat incumbent Chris Koster, said Thursday that Koster has not led the fight against what Republicans popularly deride as ObamaCare.

"We're at a pretty critical crossroads in Missouri," Martin said. "The attorney general has not fought back against ObamaCare. That's a fundamental part of the job, especially in light of Proposition C where a vast majority of Missourians said they didn't want it."

Martin said Koster didn't file a lawsuit along with many other states until late in the game and then described the filing as "poor" and "halfhearted."

"You have a role as attorney general, and that's supposed to be fighting back," he said. "This AG hasn't done that."

About a dozen or so Republicans gathered at U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's campaign headquarters on Broadway to meet with Martin. Those in attendance included Kathy Swan, a Cape Girardeau City Council member and Missouri House candidate.

Swan said she has known Martin for more than a dozen years.

"I can tell you without hesitation he has the energy, the drive, the ambition and the persistence to run the tough race and win it," Swan said. "Besides that, he has the kind of personality we need in the AG's office -- he will not give up."

But Democrats have chided Martin, formerly chief of staff for Gov. Matt Blunt, for changing his mind about what race to run in several times. The party issued a statement after Martin announced his candidacy, pointing out that he had previously declared for Missouri's 2nd and 3rd congressional districts, the U.S. Senate and even flirted at a run for governor in the past two years.

"This most recent announcement makes five offices in the past two years that Ed has actively sought," party spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki said. "We welcome Ed to the race for however long he decides to stay."

Martin has dismissed the discussion about him switching jobs by pointing out that Koster switched parties a year before he ran for attorney general.

Martin is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Law. In 2010, he ran against U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan but lost by a few thousand votes.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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