Steelman supports Hulshof in governor's race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Five weeks after the election, gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof has finally received the support of his defeated Republican primary opponent. But it's not exactly an exuberant endorsement.

Treasurer Sarah Steelman had chatted with Hulshof at least a couple of times since his Aug. 5 primary victory. But until now, she had remained silent -- contrary to Hulshof's expectations -- about whether she would support the congressman in his November matchup with Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon.

On Tuesday, Steelman issued a written statement praising the Republican presidential ticket of Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for setting a tone of change in the party by "putting the people of this country first and putting principle over politics."

McCain and Palin have been campaigning against wasteful spending earmarks, the same thing that Steelman hammered Hulshof for supporting as Missouri's 9th District congressman.

"In Missouri, we had a hard-fought primary for governor about many of the same issues that Senator McCain and Governor Palin support," Steelman said. "It is time to come together to work hard for our common goal of moving Missouri forward, not for the sake of an election, but for making a better future for Missouri families."

Steelman added: "I look forward to supporting Senator McCain, Governor Palin, Congressman Kenny Hulshof and other Missouri Republicans on the issues that are going to make a difference to every Missouri family."

Hulshof spokesman Scott Baker had expected a supportive statement from Steelman immediately after she met with Hulshof at a Jefferson City coffee shop Aug. 18.

As it turns out, that statement came several weeks later and only in the context of linking Hulshof with McCain, whom Steelman has long supported.

"Kenny's gratified that she has made public her support," Baker said Tuesday. "It is a strong step forward towards victory in November."

Hulshof could appear soon with Steelman at a campaign event, Baker said.

Nixon spokesman Oren Shur said it was surprising Steelman would link Hulshof with McCain.

"After all, Congressman Hulshof voted for the 'Bridge to Nowhere' and all of the other wasteful earmarks that Steelman and McCain spend so much time criticizing," Shur said.

Hulshof and Nixon both spoke Tuesday in Springfield to the Missouri Municipal League's annual conference.

Nixon criticized Hulshof for supporting normal trade relations with China, which he said has resulted in Missouri job losses as businesses moved overseas. Nixon cited a report by the Economic Policy Institute that Missouri lost 45,400 jobs from 2001 to 2007 because of trade with China.

Baker claimed Nixon was being hypocritical on free trade, citing a Project Vote Smart survey Nixon filled out as a U.S. Senate candidate in 1998 in which he checked that he supported the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Hulshof proposed in Springfield to expand the Missouri Accountability Portal, a website started under Gov. Matt Blunt's administration that allows the public to track state spending. Hulshof said he wants to include information about pending budget legislation and give local governments the option of putting their information on the site.