The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced Friday that Senator Kit Bond (R-Missouri) has endorsed Giuliani for President. Senator Bond will serve as National Co-Chairman and the liaison to the United States Senate for the campaign.

“America is hungry for a President who will say what he means, and do what he says. The American people want and deserve a genuine leader, and that is Rudy Giuliani,” said Bond. “Rudy has the leadership qualities and the experience to handle whatever challenges America faces in the next 10 years.”

The Missouri Republican State Committee has produced the following radio ad attacking Democrat Jay Nixon:

Around the city and county, signs supporting Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul have been popping up on roadsides and overpasses.

The signs aren’t being put up by the official Ron Paul campaign, though. Paul, a Texas Congressman has several devoted, internet-based grassroots support teams. Online, the supporters flood YouTube, message boards, social networking sites and blogs with comments, graphics and videos supporting their favorite candidate. Offline, these street teams are less visible but they make their support known through signs, fliers and protests.

The St. Louis area Ron Paul support group started this past summer. The group has grown from 40 members to roughly 250. On top of that, nearby cities like Edwardsville and St. Charles have their own groups.

The essentially Libertarian Paul is attracting Internet support reminiscent of former Democratic candidate and current DNC chairman Howard Dean. According to the lead organizer for the St. Louis area Ron Paul group, Tim Blessing, Representative Paul has won over many local apathetic and first-time voters, like Blessing himself, who admittedly voted for Ralph Nader twice, just to support a third party.

“Apathy is a tremendous thing, I’ve found out,” says Blessing. “It’s pretty easy to cure once you find someone or something to inspire you.”

Blessing sat down this week for an interview with PubDef.net to discuss how he came to lead the group and what he’s doing to attract new members.

Click To Play

Last weekend, State Rep. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) launched her campaign for the state Senate.

According to Jo Mannies at the Political Fix, former St. Louis Democratic state rep. Fred Kratky’s “Facts ‘O Life” band was there, as was State Senator Scott Rupp, State Rep. Allen Icet and Speaker-Elect Ron Richard.

The kick-off’s host committee included the mayors of Chesterfield, Town & Country, Creve Coeur, Manchester, and Fenton.

Rep. Jane Cunningham with State Rep. candidate Robin Harris and Wanda Harris

Nicholas Britto, St. Louis City school board member Veronica O’Brien, Celeste Oakland, and Jack Hoffmann of Chesterfield.

Guests at the Stand by Me fundraiser, left to right around the table…Dr. Ben Mayes (closest), Joan Kehr, Kent Kehr, Donna Hearne, Mark Hearne, Bob Bacon (mostly hidden), Karen Bacon and Ellen Mayes.

Chesterfield Township Republican Committeeman Paul Matteucci, Alicia Matteucci and Donna Hearne.

Carl and Debbie Bearden.

Cunningham campaign manager Kit Crancer with Molly Tallarico, who represents the University of Missouri.

Photos from the Cunningham campaign

Just a couple of days after opening a campaign office here, Senator Barack Obama will be in St. Louis today at a rally at Union Station.

Organizers say they are undertered by the sprinkles of rain. “I think it’s going to be a great crowd and a great event,” said Mike Dorsey, the Obama campaign’s state director for Missouri. “Rain or shine, we’re fired up and ready to go!”

Doors open for the St. Louis “Countdown to Change” rally will at 5:00 PM at the south parking lot of Union Station. Tickets are $25 ($15 for students).

Also tonight, city Democrats — young and old — will be putting on the make-up and wigs for their annual Halloween Party.

The St. Louis Democratic Central Committee and the Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis
host their annual party tonight from 6:00 to 10:00 PM at the Glazier’s Union Hall, 5916 Wilson Ave. (Southeast of Hampton and I 44). Tickets are a less-than-frightening $15 per person.

Aldermanic President Lewis Reed*, State Representative Rodney Hubbard*, and Vice-Chair of the City Democratic Party Yaphett El-Amin helped the Barack Obama Presidential campaign open their St. Louis headquarters yesterday.

Click To Play

The new campaign headquarters is located in the Jack Thompson building at the corner of Washington Ave. and Tucker.

*Clients of A D French & Associates

U.S. Senator Kit Bond announced today that Jason Van Eaton and Matt Roney will be heading up his 2008 political operations. The senior Republican is not up for re-election until 2010, but he appears to be preparing to take a leading role in Republican campaigns for president, governor, and other statewide offices.

From the press release:

COLUMBIA, MO – As this session of Congress nears an end, U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced key staff restructuring in his personal and political operations. State Director, Jason Van Eaton, and Director for the Western Missouri District, Matt Roney, will move over to the political arm of Bond’s operation.

“Jason and Matt have been essential to my official office operations. They are trusted members of my staff and I look forward to continue working with them on our political efforts in a very important election cycle,” said Bond.

More on Eaton and Roney:

W. Jason Van Eaton was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. Jason has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Bond’s State Director for over 7 years. Jason has also focused his efforts on appropriations projects, transportation policy, infrastructure, education, economic development, as well as several major development projects. On the political front, Jason worked on his first campaign in 1994 when John Ashcroft was running for the U.S. Senate. In 1998, Jason served as a Regional Director for Bond’s reelection. During the 2000 election cycle, he was the Campaign Manager for now U.S. Congressman Todd Akin in his first run for Congress. Again in 2004 he served as Campaign Manager, this time, for Bond’s reelection.

Matthew L. Roney was born and raised in greater Kansas City, Missouri. Matt has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Director for the Western Missouri District for the last 6 years. Duties included managing a district staff, coordinating appropriations requests, and coordinating governmental involvement in key economic development projects. Matt also served as Political Director for Senator Bond’s successful reelection in 2004.

It looks like the Barack Obama campaign will be the first to open an office in St. Louis.

This week, supporters of the junior senator from Illinois’ bid for President will open a campaign office in downtown St. Louis, in the Jack Thompson Square Building on the corner of Washington Ave. and Tucker.

The opening of the headquarters, which will likely occur on Tuesday Wednesday, comes just a few days before Sen. Obama comes to St. Louis for a rally on Friday at Union Station.

His Missouri supporters will welcome U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate Barack Obama when he stops in St. Louis on Friday, October 26.

From the invitation:

We’re counting down the days until the crucial early primaries and caucuses in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

Victory in these states is essential to securing the Democratic nomination and will mark the beginning of real change in our country.

Supporters, community members, and friends are coming together at Union Station to support Barack and start the countdown.

Here are the details:

St. Louis Countdown to Change
Friday, October 26, 2007
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Union Station, South Parking Lot
1820 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103

Tickets: $25
Student price: $15

Tickets can be purchase at https://donate.barackobama.com/c2cStL

Shamed Dogan, Republican candidate for State Representative in Missouri’s 88th District, announced Monday that his 3rd quarter financial report will show that he raised over $12,000 from 125 different contributors, including State Reps Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield), Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood); four of Ballwin’s eight Aldermen—Tim Pogue, Jim Robinson, Jane Suozzi and Jimmy Terbrock; St. Louis County Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger; St. Louis City Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett; and Ferguson Alderman James Knowles.

From the press release:

“I appreciate the help I’ve received from my family, friends, and concerned citizens who share my vision for a smaller, better Missouri government,” Dogan said. “I am also very thankful to Jim Talent for being a supporter and a role model.”

Dogan also received contributions from prominent Republicans including former State Rep. Brent Evans; Ray Wagner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Missouri Federation of Young Republicans Chair Monica Durrwachter; St. Louis County Republican Committeeman Kurt Witzel; and St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Dwight Billingsly.

Here’s our earlier video from Shamed Dogan’s campaign kick-off in July: