If Republicans are to keep the governor’s office, they will have to overcome a huge early financial advantage amassed by Democrat Jay Nixon , the state Attorney General.

The Nixon campaign has reported raising one-and-a-half million dollars in the first quarter of the year and now has $2.7 million on hand. Nixon had trailed incumbent Governor Matt Blunt, a Republican, badly in fund-raising. But Blunt has dropped out of the race and the Republicans who have stepped in haven’t been able to keep up with Nixon’s fund-raising pace. In fact, the Nixon campaign bank account totals more than accounts of Republicans Sarah Steelman and Kenny Hulshof combined.

Steelman, the state Treasurer, reports a bank account totaling $1.4 million dollars, helped in large part by a $570,000 personal loan. Hulshof, the 9th District Congressman, reports raising $900,000 in the first quarter with $730,000 on hand.