State Auditor Claire McCaskill won’t be among the politicians addressing the State Democratic Presidential Convention tomorrow in Columbia. McCaskill says state party officials turned down her request to address delegates, even though Governor Bob Holden will address them. McCaskill says party officials have given her the cold shoulder for her decision to challenge Holden in the August primary, but she says that doesn’t reflect the attitude of rank-and-file Democrats. McCaskill says she decided to run when she came to the conclusion that Holden could not beat Secretary of State Matt Blunt, the top Republican running for Governor. McCaskill acknowleges party officials offered to let her speak at a rally tonight, sometime between 9:45 and 11 o’clock. She declined. The Executive Director of the state party – Jim Kottmeyer – insists time constraints are the reason behind the decision because this convention is all about getting John Kerry elected President in November.
