St. Louis, Boonville newspapers endorse McCaskill's campaign

Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill picked up two more endorsements Thursday in her bid for the Democratic nomination for governor -- one from the black weekly newspaper The St. Louis American, another from The Boonville Daily News.

Missouri's party primary elections are next Tuesday.

The St. Louis American said Democratic Gov. Bob Holden "has been a stalwart defender of many issues that affect the African-American community and has appointed blacks to several substantive positions."

But the paper said Holden "was snakebit" by circumstances such as budget cuts and a Republican-led legislature. McCaskill "will be a more formidable opponent in the expected contest against [Republican] Secretary of State Matt Blunt in November."

"McCaskill has many commendable qualities and a forward-looking, innovative program to increase jobs in inner-city neighborhoods and increase school funding, and they make Claire McCaskill a more desirable choice for the nomination," The St. Louis American wrote.

The Boonville Daily News, recalling Holden's expensive inauguration and "the fiasco with the state employees and the mandatory union requirements," said the governor more recently has fared better than his first year or so in office.

Still, the newspaper said, "While Holden has done his best, he had difficulties bringing the House and the Senate together to solve the state's problems. While citing fiscal responsibility, he withheld money from education until he was sure the figures were accurate."

The Daily News called McCaskill a "straight-forward, no nonsense person" who has shown exceptional interpersonal and communications skills as auditor.

"If you are going to choose a Democratic ballot next Tuesday, we encourage you to vote for McCaskill. She has the skills and the ability to work together for all Missourians," the paper said.

McCaskill also picked up the endorsement of the Webster County Citizen, which wrote Wednesday, "Simply stated, we can't think of a worse governor than Holden."

The Citizen endorsed Holden four years ago but railed him as a "fool" who has seen the economy nose-dive, schools suffer and the governor do "nothing but play partisan politics."

The paper called McCaskill brilliant, efficient and innovative -- "her party's shining star."

The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to face Blunt, who has several lesser-known opponents on the Republican primary ballot.