AP article explores rift in Missouri Republican ranks

An article filed today by Associated Press details the long-standing rift between the ultra-conservative side of the Missouri Republican Party, as personified by Governor Matt Blunt and Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves, and the more moderate wing, led by Sen. Kit Bond. The article included this observation from University of Missouri-Kansas City political science professor Max Skidmore regarding Bond's possible support for Graves' Democratic opponent, former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes:

Skidmore, the political science professor, said Bond could still lend quiet support to Barnes without making an official endorsement.

"It's likely that Bond wouldn't be overt in anything he did, but he can do it with relative impunity," Skidmore said. "He could transgress the 11th commandment, 'thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican,' without throwing the House to the Democrats, where they have it already anyway.

"It also might be the case that if Sam Graves loses his seat and if Matt Blunt loses his governorship in 2008, that could not only severely damage, but almost annihilate that wing of the party at least for now, and Kit Bond would be reigning supreme," Skidmore said.