Voter ID Ruling Reaction

Very different reactions from a judge's decision to strike down Missouri's controversial voting identification law . . .

Here's the A.P.'s take.
Here's a piece from the St. Louis Business Journal.

Now from the pols . . .

Governor Matt Blunt issued this statement: "I am disappointed in Judge Callahan's ruling and encourage the defendants to appeal. This is a constitutionally sound law that will help improve Missourians confidence in the elections process and help combat those who attempt to manipulate the system. "

The Missouri Republican Party is blaming Attorney General Jay Nixon for the court's decision:

"Democrat Jay Nixon's political opposition to free and fair elections was exposed today after his lackluster defense of the state's voter identification law forced a Cole County Circuit judge to rule against the anti-fraud measure," writes G.O.P. spokesman Paul Sloca.

"Nixon, along with other Democratic Party bosses like Robin Carnahan, led Democrat efforts to oppose a law that will ensure the integrity of the state's election system."

Meanwhile, in an interview in Springfield today, former Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan praised the decision.

"It was going to be a voter suppression law, something to prevent elderly, disabled and minorities from voting because they had to go through a number of hijinks just to get an I.D," Carnahan told me in an interview Thursday evening. "And so now this means people will be able to vote. They'll be fully enfranchised, they'll be able to vote regardless if they are registered voters, they'll be able to vote."