SOUR NOTES IN MISSOURI DEMOCRATS' HARMONY

An insightful Kansas City Star news analysis recently related a little-known story in Missouri politics: Discord within the ranks of ruling Democrats. The Democratic Party has controlled both houses of the General Assembly for more than 40 years and, since 1993, the executive branch as well. Among the six constitutional officers of state government, only Auditor Margaret Kelly flies the GOP banner. These are the same five Democrats who won re-election last November campaigning as the so-called "Dream Team."

Writer Kevin Murphy pointed to discord among black Democrats over the candidacy of Attorney General Jay Nixon, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond next year. Labor unions, which wield lots of clout in Democratic politics, are intervening, insisting that Democrats back Nixon or risk losing labor support. Many black Democrats say they prefer Bond.

Beyond that, at least three gubernatorial vetoes are giving Democratic lawmakers plenty of heartburn. Almost none wants to vote on an expected attempt to override Gov. Mel Carnahan's veto of the ban on partial-birth abortions. Former President Pro Tem Jim Mathewson, D-Sedalia, is upset with Carnahan's veto of an economic development bill he sponsored along with a Kansas City Democrat from the House. Both sponsors said they were "stunned" by this veto. Still another senior Democrat, Sen. John Schneider, charged he was "double-crossed" by the governor's veto of one of his bills.

Add to all this an expected clash between two top Democrats who both covet the governor's chair three years hence. They are Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson and Treasurer Bob Holden, who both appear to be running hard for the post only one can fill. Discord there is aplenty among ruling Missouri Democrats.