No Formal Blunt Announcement Expected Saturday

***SPRINGFIELD'S 2009 LINCOLN DAYS***
WHAT SATURDAY'S SIGNALS WILL SAY

Sen. Kit Bond and Congressman Roy Blunt are both expected to address the noon luncheon at University Plaza.

CHECK TWITTER UPDATES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG

A Republican insider with ties to the Congressman says it's unlikely Blunt will make a formal announcement of a candidacy for U.S. Senate at the event. Statewide Lincoln Days in Kansas City two weeks from now is a more likely venue for a potential Blunt announcement, says the source.

Sarah Steelman, who is sending strong smoke signals about a run for U.S. Senate will not be in attendance. She has a previous commitment to take her son to quarterback camp in St. Louis, according to a family friend. Former U.S. Senator Jim Talent is not expected to be in attendance and it's unclear what his intentions are for 2010. One Republican insider says he believes Talent is waiting to watch what Steelman does before making his own move. Others believe Talent will defer to 2012 for a re-match against Sen. Claire McCaskill.

(QUICK QUESTION: Who does a 3-way help or hurt? Would Talent's entry hurt Blunt or Steelman? Would Steelman have a better shot at dethroning Blunt with Talent in or out?)

THE 7th: Which potential candidates to replace Roy Blunt are out prominently glad-handing? Rep. Shane Schoeller, Sen. Jack Goodman, Sen. Gary Nodler and Rep. B.J. Marsh are all potentials. (But pssst . . . not everybody really thinking about it has said so publicly . . . More later . . .)

ENOUGH WITH THE ATMOSPHERICS . . . WHAT ABOUT THE PROGRAM?: As far as the event itself, former Greene County Commission candidate Lincoln Hough, Rep. Eric Burlison and Blunt staffer Miles Ross will hold an 11 a.m. forum about what it takes to become a G.O.P. candidate.

Rep. Bob Dixon, who has said he'll run for the 30th District Senate seat in 2010, will co-host a second forum with State Sen. Norma Champion to look at 2009 legislative issues.

New State Party Chairman David Cole is also expected to speak during the noon hour.

The always lovely and personable Ann Compton is chairing the event.

Oh, and they'll announce Greene County's Republican of the Year

(We're betting it's not Mark Wright)
{BTW: What's it about Wrights and dogs?}

The event is slated to conclude at 1:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend.

Candidates TARGET Votes at Barbeque

WATCH MY KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT ABOVE

T.A.R.G.E.T is the annual Greene County Republican Barbeque Fundraiser Held at Phelps Grove Park. T.A.R.G.E.T stands for The Association of Republicans Getting Everyone Together. Some G.O.P. attendees said they were surprised to see a lower turnout at this year's event.

Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman both addressed the crowd, but Hulshof's speech was notable for its aggressiveness at a party insider gala. While Steelman basically stuck to her issues and talked about herself, Hulshof made a clear point at offering a contrast between himself and Steelman. Usually at these types of party booster events, the candidates never mention their opponents to avoid offending party activists who don't like to witness a inter-party fight up close. But while Hulshof didn't overtly criticize Steelman, he strongly pitched why he'd be a stronger nominee than her. WATCH BELOW.

De Plane! De Plane!

PLANE FLYING OVER GREENE COUNTY SATURDAY AFTERNOON CARRIES PRO-SARAH STEELMAN AND MARK WEBB SIGNS

Tonight at 5 p.m: The TARGET Barbeque at Phelps Grove Park

Annual Summer G.O.P. Fundraiser Picnic Will Feature All The Candidates You Ever Wanted to See . . . And Even Some You Didn't

Developing for KY3 News @ 10 . . .

Club G.O.P.

LOCAL REPUBLICANS HOLD PRIMARY NIGHT WATCH PARTY AT OLD INTENSITY NIGHT CLUB

7 p.m. Tuesday

2951 East Sunshine

You're asked to bring your own chair, and your best remix.

Kinder Ramps Up

"None of us had the heads-up."

TOUTS ECONOMIC RECORD IN WEB INTERVIEW

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder sat down with Gary Marble of Associated Industries of Missouri to tout his business credentials as a potential candidate for Governor.

Kinder said "none of us had a heads up," and said he got the word with other lawmakers 10 minutes before Blunt made the announcement.

You can watch the interview on the AIM website HERE.

"We were all stunned, shocked, surprised, but I immediately resolved that I intend to announce in the next couple of weeks that I will run for Governor," Kinder said in the interview.

Kinder cited his experience in helping shrink the rolls of state employees and "fight the budget fight" to keep Missouri a low-tax, business-friendly state.

Kinder's political consultant is also touting a new article from the conservative magazine Human Events, which writes that Kinder is ahead of the pack "in a big way."

"State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who announced for re-election three hours before Blunt announced his retirement, and Rep. Kenny Hulshoff, are both considered potential candidates for governor. But in terms of name recognition, organization, and early movement, Kinder is ahead in a big way," writes John Gizzi.

Fred Who?

With all the talk about Fred Thompson entering the GOP nomination race, the latest USA Today/Gallup poll should be somewhat sobering. In telephone interviews with more than 1,000 adults, 50% of respondents said they had never heard of Thompson. (They should have asked if they'd seen "Die Hard 2" or "Law & Order.")

The same poll puts Rudy ahead of McCain and Thompson (among 427 GOP leaners). Among 491 Democratic leaners, it's Clinton, Obama and Gore (he's running?). Take Al out of the mix and John Edwards runs third. In a head-to-head between the senators from New York and Illinois, Hillary holds her lead over Barack. Why they asked? Experience. Obama supporters cite his fresh ideas, his positions, and not liking Clinton as reasons.