McCaskill triggers 2004 primary race for governor

ST. LOUIS -- With the backing of former Gov. Roger Wilson, State Auditor Claire McCaskill formally launched her quest Monday to unseat fellow Democrat Bob Holden as the state's chief executive, declaring that Missourians "are sick and tired of excuses."

Wilson announced his support for McCaskill at Columbia's Hickman High School -- McCaskill's alma mater and her second stop in a three-city campaign tour that began in Kansas City and ended in St. Louis.

"Her experience, her communications skills, her leadership, her ability to move people together, are what we need," Wilson said in a telephone interview. "The Democratic Party is supposed to put forth the very best candidate it can so the 85 percent of Missouri voters who vote independently have the very best to choose from."

McCaskill said the support of Wilson, who ascended from lieutenant governor to governor following the death of Mel Carnahan in an October 2000 plane crash, is important. Still, she wants to focus more on earning the support of average Missourians over political endorsements.

McCaskill made official what had seemed increasingly certain in recent months -- she will run against Holden, in his first term, in the Democratic primary in August 2004. She and her family have loaned the campaign $250,000, McCaskill said.

Republican consultant John Hancock, a former executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, doesn't see much difference between McCaskill and Holden.

"I think Missouri voters will want to look in a new direction, and move this state in a new direction," Hancock said, adding that he believes the expected GOP nominee, Secretary of State Matt Blunt, is just that person.

Some Democrats had hoped McCaskill would refrain from running against Holden, fearing that the primary winner would be drained financially and weakened politically heading into the general election.

But others worried that the Democratic hold on the governorship next year was already threatened by the poor economy, the state's budget troubles and Holden's own mixed fortunes with the Republican-controlled Legislature.

McCaskill acknowledged that some party officials did not want her to run, but said thousands of other people have encouraged her.

Holden, meanwhile, said he wished that McCaskill was standing alongside him, "fighting the right-wing agenda that's in the General Assembly."

"I'm looking forward to her support after the primary," he said, insisting the Democratic Party "will stand strong."