http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/mattbluntw_1774.mp3
Secretary of State Matt Blunt announced today that he will run for governor. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
SECRETARY OF STATE MATT BLUNT MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT STRAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL FROM WHICH HE GRADUATED. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ISSUE A STATEMENT CRITICIZING BLUNT...THE PRESS RELEASE CONTAINED THE TOP TEN QUESTIONS MATT BLUNT NEEDS TO ANSWER IF HE WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI. THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION POSED BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? QUOTE-AFTER YOU LOSE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? END QUOTE. AT 33 YEARS OLD, BLUNT IS LIKELY TO BE THE YOUNGEST CONTENDER FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BUT HIS CAMPAIGN POINTS OUT THAT HE'S A GRADUATE OF THE U-S NAVAL ACADEMY AND HAS A 10 YEAR NAVAL CAREER, INCLUDING FIVE YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY. STILL DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPOKESMAN JIM GARDENER SAYS BLUNT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO BE GOVERNOR. AT STRAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL, A CROWD OF ABOUT 200 LISTENED TO BLUNT OUTLINE SOME OF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. BLUNT'S STATEMENT ABOUT WITHOLDING MONEY FROM EDUCATION IS IN REFERENCE TO THE DECISION BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN TO WITHOLD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DEMOCRATIC PARTY SPOKESMAN JIM GARDENER SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK BLUNT WILL BE ABLE TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN WILL FACE A CHALLENGE IN THE PRIMARY FROM STATE AUDITOR CLAIRE MC-CASKILL. BLUNT IS THE LIKELY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST THE WINNER OF THAT RACE.