Former Governor Matt Blunt has forgiven a $300,000 debt to Lt. Governor Peter Kinder.

Blunt had lent Kinder the money in 2008 after deciding not to run for re-election. Kinder used it to finance his successful re-election campaign against Democrat Sam Page. Kinder seems now to be poised to run for Blunt’s old job. He has collected nearly $600,000.

The loan forgiveness has allowed Kinder to terminate his Friends of Peter Kinder Debt Committee, so contributions now can go to his regular campaign committee, presumably to finance a run against incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Nixon.