GOP gubernatorial primary has echoes of 1992 battle w/ links to official campaign Web sites

By Wally Kennedy

wkennedy@joplinglobe.com

Four Republicans, two Democrats and a Libertarian want to be Missouri’s next governor, but there is only one primary contest generating heat, and it’s a doozy.

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, from Missouri’s 9th District, and Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman have taken to the airwaves with attack and counter-attack ads to convince Republicans each is the best candidate to take on likely Democratic nominee, Missouri Attorney General Jeremiah “Jay’’ Nixon.

One observer of Missouri politics says the primary between Steelman and Hulshof is reminiscent of the 1992 Republican contest between Roy Blunt, William Webster and Wendell Bailey. Webster, a Carthage native, became the nominee but his campaign for governor was marked by allegations of corruption relating to a state workers’ compensation fund that Webster managed as attorney general. Webster lost the general election to Democrat Mel Carnahan.

Both Hulshof and Steelman have made frequent appearances in Southwest Missouri. Nixon has taken a low-key approach to the primary since his only opponent is Daniel Carroll, a factory worker from Shelbina.

Ad battle blitz

Steelman defended ads that she says illustrate Hulshof’s record as a Congressman.

“The ads are pointing out his Washington spending habits. That’s a matter of record. Those are the facts,” she said. “We are not distorting the record. In a campaign, you look at their records. He can look at my record, and I was looking at his record. His was one of wasteful spending in Congress and increasing the federal deficit. He won’t defend any of his votes on earmarks.

“I have not attacked his character. Those ads point out the record.”

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised,” Hulshof responded. “There are ways to compare and contrast the views of candidates that can be hard-hitting, but fair. You can produce ads that do not get into a negative reflection of someone’s character.

“She has attacked my character. I’m immoral, irresponsible and wasteful in her eyes. But I have tried to stay on the high road. You have got to defend yourself because you know negative campaigning works. But you can do that in a way in which the facts are unassailable,” he said.

Steelman said the Republican nominee will be able to recover from the attack ads to mount a strong campaign against Nixon this fall.

Said Steelman: “Nixon will use the 12 years Hulshof spent in Washington and his spending record against him. That’s the difference between me and Hulshof.”

Hulshof said: “If Republicans honor me with their nomination, I will thread the needle and show the contrast between me and Nixon.”