If there is any desired place to be in politics, it’s where former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman is now. She gets to lob snowballs to her heart’s content without actually getting in the snowball fight.
Steelman has long been speculated as a contender for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Christopher “Kit” Bond. Republican U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt and Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan have entered the race officially.
Ever since Blunt announced his candidacy in January, the buzz has been on Steelman and whether she’ll jump in and create a primary fight, similar to what she did in the 2008 gubernatorial election.
Now, the latest campaign rumors are about how Steelman doesn’t want to run against Blunt, but replace him in Congress. A report from The Hill indicates that Steelman is now interested in running for the seat Blunt is vacating: U.S. representative for the 7th District. She would enter a race that already has Sens. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon.
But a recent comment on her Twitter page shows she’s still weighing her options against Blunt. After former Sen. John Danforth endorsed Blunt to replace Bond, Steelman wrote: “Danforth says we need fresh face in DC then turns around and endorses Blunt ... Funny the way it is...”
This is the safest of all politicking. She gets to take pot shots while she studies the developing campaign scene and teaches political science at Missouri State University.
Though Republicans fear a divisive candidate such as Steelman in a primary (especially in light of Carnahan’s as-yet-uncontested race) would be detrimental in the general election, we think that a primary would give voters the best candidates possible in a general election. That’s why we wish Steelman would enter a race.
We know, we know. It’s barely summer 2009. There is plenty of time left in the 2010 election season for Steelman to make a decision.
But if Steelman is going to talk like she’s campaigning, she should at least tell the targets of her criticism for what office she’s running — if anything.
Opinion
In our view: Stop talking, start running
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