Former Senator Jim Talent says another run for the United States Senate is not for him. His announcement leaves several other party big names free to start beating the drum for their own possibilities. Former state party chairman Ann Wagner, who failed to get the national chairmanship earlier this month, is saying she’s seriously interested. So is northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves. The former chief of staff for Governor Matt Blunt, Ed Martin–the loser of a congressional race last fall to Russ Carnahan–is talking about himself. Southeast Missouri Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has been making calls.
Former Treasurer Sarah Steelman has been running for several months.
Talent says he’d rather keep working on national security issues.