Steelman officially enters governor's race

State Treasurer Sarah Steelman officially entered the governor's race today, joining Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as the only announced Republican candidates:

Only days ago, Steelman was in the kitchen of her parent’s Jefferson City home, announcing that she would run again for state treasurer.

But, as we learned this week, politics is full of surprises.

On Saturday, Steelman was in a similar setting - the kitchen of her brother’s home in Springfield - to announce her push to replace Matt Blunt in the governor’s office. (If one day Steelman decides to run for yet another office, she might need more relatives.)

At the announcement, Steelman seemed a tad hesitant when asked if she supports Blunt’s 2005 health care cuts, which, had he run again, would have been a key vulnerability.

“I’m not here to Monday morning quarterback Matt Blunt’s administration,” Steelman said. “There were hard decisions that had to be made.”