All of the sudden, all cards are wild at the top of Missouri Republican politics.

People who had decided what office they’d seek—or people who had decided they might not run for anything this year—are suddenly seeing a completely different field now that Governor Blunt has announced he will not run for re-election.

Lieutenant Governor Kinder is one of them. He has said about everything EXCEPT "I’m running for Governor."

Kinder admits Governor Blunt’s withdrawal from a re-election bid has turned his world upside down.

While saying Governor Blunt has given great leadership, he also positions himself as an unannounced candidate. Kinder says Blunt has kept his campaign promises and has established a record "of a positive nature to run on and to defend."

Kinder says is the right person to deliver the changes Missourians deserve.

Kinder says the Blunt announcement has turned his world "upside down."

Kinder spent the two hours after the announcement scurrying from office to office in his Lieutenant Governor’s area at the capitol, a cell phone pressed to his ear taking and making call after call. One of those who was part of the scurrying about was influential Republican party leader Woody Cozad, a former party chairman.

Kinder says he will make a formal announcement of his plans for Governor later.

 

download Kinder’s description of the call