Kinder: I can't beat Jay Nixon

Faced with the option of having a campaign filled with innuendo about his relationship with an exotic dancer and use of taxpayer money for stays in lavish hotels, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder came to the conclusion that he didn't have a prayer of beating Jay Nixon for governor.

Kinder announced today he will forego the duel with Nixon and run for a third term as lieutenant governor.

The decision comes just days after Sen. Grad Lager, R-Savannah, announced he would run for the position and comes at a time when news reports have indicated term-limited Sen. Luann Ridgeway was thinking about running.

In Kinder's announcement, which should come as no surprise, since he has dodged committing to the governor's race for months, he handed over the position of GOP sacrificial cow to businessman Dave Spence.

Kinder also paints himself as a heroic man of the people.

Kinder's news release is printed below:

After keeping his promise to Missourians to travel the state and discuss a potential race for governor, today Peter Kinder announced his plans to run for re-election.

“I have worked hard every day to serve all the people of Missouri as their Lt. Governor. Serving as Lt. Governor is a great honor. I have the experience, track-record and desire to continue working in that capacity every day to achieve needed reforms. Missouri deserves a Lt. Governor committed to reducing government waste, and protecting Missouri taxpayer dollars,” said Kinder.

As Missouri’s Senior Advocate, Kinder’s office has been busy working with providers and senior advocates to clean up Nixon’s mess in the Department of Health and Senior Services where the health of thousands of seniors has been jeopardized by his department’s total failure to timely provide assessments to seniors waiting for approval to receive critical home care services. Kinder feels strongly that Missouri Seniors need an advocate who will fight for them, a role Kinder will continue if re-elected Lt. Governor.

“Everywhere I traveled during my listening tour people expressed their frustration with Missouri’s unemployment rate and the lack of jobs. Missouri ranked 48th in the nation in job creation in 2010 and had the longest monthly decline in employment in the country under Governor Nixon. Nixon’s leadership has been absent in job creation. Nothing would do more to improve Missouri’s job climate and economic growth potential than defeating Nixon next year. Governor Nixon has failed to lead choosing instead to stand on the sidelines while Governor in other states were taking bold actions and moving their states forward,” said Kinder.

“I believe after numerous conversations with Dave Spence that he is the Republican Party’s best chance of defeating Jay Nixon. Dave is a self-made man and proven manager who understands how to create jobs and improve the state’s economy. He is smart, serious and has a vision he’s shared with me to renew Missouri’s greatness. I am proud to call him a friend and will do everything in my power to see that he’s elected governor next year,” continued Kinder.

Kinder plans to continue his statewide listening tour throughout all corners of the state of Missouri in the near future.