With Kit Bond out in 2010, Missouri Senate race is wide open

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By Steeve Kraske and Jason Noble | Kansas City Star

With Republican Kit Bond suddenly out of the running for the U.S. Senate in 2010, Missouri faces a problem as old as the republic.

Just one job. Lots of potential candidates.

"When we're talking about a major office like the U.S. Senate, an announcement like this is the political equivalent of a nuclear bomb going off," said Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders, whose name was on the list of possible Democratic contenders.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan was perhaps the most prominent Democrat mentioned.

The Republican list of potential candidates was longer and included U.S. Reps. Roy Blunt of Springfield, Sam Graves of Tarkio and Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau; former Sen. Jim Talent; Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder; former Rep. Kenny Hulshof; and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Gov. Matt Blunt, who are about to leave office.

"Everybody's a candidate today," said GOP consultant Jeff Roe of Kansas City.

Read the full story at KansasCity.com

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