Joplin contributions center of Page attack on Kinder

The $300,000 in contributions Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder received last week from the Humphreys family of Joplin are at the center of Democratic candidate Sam Page's latest news release issued today:

Continuing his practice of raising money from a broad base of support, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sam Page reported raising $307,327.69 from 511 contributors, for an average of $601.42 per donor.

"I'm thankful for the wide support I've received from throughout Missouri," Page said. "Missourians are looking for a lieutenant governor who advocates for them, not just wealthy contributors."

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder reported an average of $3,427 per donor with 184 individual donors. Half of Kinder's money raised this reporting period came from one family in the form of three $100,000 donations.

Today's ethics report filing comes on the heels of a leaked polling memo that shows Page neck and neck with the incumbent Peter Kinder. National trend, good ballot position and an opponent with a "toothless" message all seem to be falling in Page's favor wrote Dave Drebes of the Arch City Chronicle and MOScout.