Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, a Republican in a bitter re-election fight against Democratic challenger State Rep. Sam Page, has announced the support of several black religious leaders.
Kinder has been campaigning in St. Louis’ black community as much, if not more, than any other statewide candidate this season — Democrat or Republican.
This summer he marched at the front of the line in the historic Call to Oneness march through the streets of north St. Louis.
The march, which sought to call attention to the violence plaguing the city’s streets, drew more than 20,000 black men and very few white politicians. Kinder, a Republican from southwest southeast Missouri, was there even when the city’s own mayor, Francis Slay, was not.
Kinder support of economic development and education reform has also earned him the support of several prominent black business and education leaders, many of whom have thrown fundraisers for Kinder here in St. Louis, like the one we covered back in April. That event featured a host committee that included several well-known black Democrats, including St. Louis Argus Publisher Eddie Hasan, developer Tony Thompson, attorney Rufus Tate, and Sal Martinez, among others.
There were also several Democrats in attendance, including Alderman Freeman Bosley, Sr.; Tom Shepard, chief of staff for Aldermanic President Lewis Reed; former State Rep. Betty Thompson; and former alderman and Anheuser-Busch executive Wayman Smith.
In this video, Smith jokingly compared the African-American turnout at Kinder’s fundraiser to those Barack Obama regularly draws.
The ministers that announced their support for Kinder this week include:
- Rev. Ronald Bobo of West Side Missionary Baptist Church
- Rev. Kevin Kosh of Union Memorial United Methodist Church
- Bishop Anthony Taylor of New Hope Worship Center
- Rev. Rev Grant Hughes of Bethlehem M.B. Church
- Rev. Ken McKoy
Democrat Sam Page, who has less cash on hand than Kinder, is hoping to ride the coattails gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon. Page is also hoping to benefit from the very high turnout expected among black voters because of presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Page has been attacking Kinder hard on radio and television and his latest TV ad may have hit a nerve. KY3′s David Catanese caught up with a pretty pissed off Kinder to ask him about Page’s charges.
A recent Post-Dispatch/KMOV poll showed Kinder leading Page 49 percent to 40 percent.
