Democrats plan formal response to Blunt speech

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon will deliver a formal response speech next week to counter Republican Gov. Matt Blunt's prime-time State of the State address.

Blunt plans to deliver his speech at 7 p.m. Wednesday -- breaking with the tradition of governors giving their annual address to the legislature in the morning.

The Blunt administration hopes the evening time -- similar to the president's State of the Union address -- will give more people an opportunity to hear the speech live on radio or cable television.

The Democrats' planned response speech also is new, and is similar to what happens in Washington.

"Obviously, we know Governor Blunt will be in the spotlight that day, but we feel it's important that Missourians also hear from the Democrats," said state Democratic Party spokesman Jack Cardetti.

"We're not asking for equal time here or anything, just live coverage of the brief response," Cardetti added.