Kinder part of crowded field in lieutenant governor's race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — In a 10-candidate field for Missouri’s second-ranking executive, two men are running ahead of the pack, as if they already are their party’s nominees.

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and one of his many Democratic challengers, state Rep. Sam Page, have been campaigning against each other in the final days before Tuesday’s party primary elections — even though they are on different ballots.

Kinder and Page are the only candidates to have raised significant amounts of money. And they are the only candidates mounting traditional campaigns by traveling the state and airing ads.

Page, a physician from suburban St. Louis, is following the path of the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Attorney General Jay Nixon, by making the restoration of the Republican-led 2005 Medicaid cuts one of his top priorities. He’s doing so by linking Kinder to Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, who is not seeking re-election.

A Page radio ad declares: "In the state Legislature, Sam Page led the fight against the Blunt-Kinder health care cuts." A lieutenant governor cannot reverse the cuts, but Page contends the office would give him a bully pulpit to advocate for that.

Kinder, of Cape Girardeau, has responded forcefully with ads attacking Page. In one radio clip, Kinder compares Page to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — dubbing him "Mr. Hide" while asserting Page missed 284 House votes and backed some Medicaid cuts while supporting an increase in the Medicaid reimbursements paid to doctors.

Page contends the ads show Kinder is concerned about their potential matchup in the November general election.

"It is unprecedented for a Republican incumbent to get involved in a Democratic primary of their challenger," Page said.

Radio ads aside, Kinder has predominantly stressed his role as a chief executive and as the state’s official elderly advocate.

Kinder notes he has served more than 100 days as acting governor, including during emergencies such as flooding, while Blunt has traveled out of state. It’s an experience factor that no one else can claim.

He has also conducted town-hall forums at senior centers, highlighting an increase in funding for senior meals, a senior state prescription drug program and his promotion of a health department program that combats the financial exploitation of the elderly.

Kinder defends the Medicaid eligibility cuts as a budgetary necessity and rejects calls for their restoration.

"A person who adopts the position (Page) and others have adopted is arguing for a tax increase or they are lying to Missourians," Kinder said.

Page believes the Medicaid cuts can be reversed using existing state and federal money. "(Kinder’s) definition of reality is out of touch with mainstream Missouri," Page counters.

Before the two can actually face each other, Kinder must turn back two lesser-known challengers and Page must survive a six-way Democratic primary, which is no guarantee. There also is a Libertarian candidate.

Among the other Democrats, the most creative campaign has come from Michael Carter, a St. Charles attorney who teaches business courses at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Carter also operates a phone-in time and temperature service, and he has used that equipment to make an estimated 15 million to 20 million automated calls to prospective voters. By calling people over and over, Carter acknowledges, he is likely to build some animosity. But he also hopes to build recognition — prompting some people to mark his name at the ballot booth.

Even when serving as a fill-in governor, the lieutenant governor doesn’t have much power, Carter said. So for other candidates "to go around campaigning saying you’re going to effectuate a bunch of change in things is just not true," he said.

Two other Democratic candidates already hold elected office.

Becky Plattner, a crop farmer from Grand Pass, is the Saline County presiding commissioner and an appointed member of the Missouri Conservation Commission.

Richard Tolbert, a Kansas City businessman, is an elected trustee for the Metropolitan Community College and has been active in Freedom Inc.

At age 84, Lillian Metzger, of Troy, is making her first run for office. A retired U.S. Justice Department paralegal and church secretary, Metzger said she has been active in the Silver Haired Legislature.

The other Democratic candidate is Jefferson City nurse Mary Williams.