More than 100, mostly African-American and largely Democratic, supporters of Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder came out last night to support his re-election bid.

The host committee included several well-known St. Louis African-American Republicans, including James Buford and Jerry Hunter. But it also featured the names of several prominent 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 exclusive video, Smith jokingly compared the African-American turnout at Kinder’s fundraiser to those Barack Obama regularly draws.

In his speech and in an interview with PubDef (check back later for video), Kinder talked about the importance of Missouri’s rural and suburban legislators recognizing that the St. Louis region is the “economic engine of the state.”

“As the economy here goes, so goes the economy of the State of Missouri,” said Kinder.

Kinder highlighted his support of historic tax credits, which helped fuel development downtown, and the new Land Assemblage Tax Credit, which he hopes will spur similar development activity in blighted areas of the city, particularly north St. Louis.

Kinder will likely face Democrat Sam Page in the general election in November.

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder said he would have been “skeptical” if he were a member of Congress when the stimulus package was pushed through, but rather than question the bill that will send between $600 and $1200 to eligible households this summer he’s decided to embrace the measure.

“If were going to have this means of stimulus let’s make the most of it,” Kinder said during a conference call Wednesday with bloggers.

Kinder is supporting House Bill 2250 which would create a one-time-only sales tax holiday June 27 through June 29. He saw it as the best way to encourage people to shop by getting a break on their sales taxes.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sutherland, also includes the proposed Show-Me Green Tax Holiday Act. Citizens would receive a sales tax exemption on energy efficient products costing $1,500 or less during a seven-day period once a year. Exempt products including those that meet or exceed federal Energy Star Program requirements.

Kinder said he’s met some resistance to the bill from the Missouri Municipal League, which usually fights tax abatements. Kinder said they should “stop being the scrooges” and “get with the program.” But he also said if it took adding an opt-out clause to pass the bill he’d acquiesce.

While Kinder admitted formulating economic policies were “above my pay grade”, he said he was very interested in a plan to deal with the dollar’s falling value.

“I happen to believe that mailing a check in these relatively small amounts across the countryside is not an effective stimulus,” Kinder said. “The falling dollar is what’s leading to $110 barrel oil.”

After briefly considering a run for governor, Kinder is seeking re-election this year. Democrat Sam Page will likely be his opponent in November.

BREAKING NEWS

A tipster reports the Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder made a surprise announcement at the Republican Lincoln Days event tonight. Apparently in the interest of party unity, he will not be seeking the nomination for governor.

UPDATED: Here’s Kinder’s statement:

“I have taken on a cause as Lt. Governor to fight for the values I believe in - the values my mom taught me to believe in - faith, family, personal responsibility, service and keeping commitments to those who have sacrificed for this great nation. 

“Missourians can be proud of what we have accomplished together in the Lt. Governor’s office for the men and women in uniform who have given so much to this great country and who need an advocate who will fight for them, for the seniors who have worked and saved to build up this nation and who deserve our respect and a higher quality of life and for our workers and employers who deserve a state government that understands how to help Missourians create jobs and grow the economy.

“Working together we have delivered positive change that Missourians deserve and I want to continue keeping the change working for our state. It will take a combined effort of every Republican, ever Democrat, every leader and every Missourian to create jobs, advocate for our veterans, fight illegal immigration and deliver world class schools for our students and I want to continue being an advocate for change on these important issues.

“Since I was elected Lt. Governor in 2004 many Missourians have told me personally they would support me if I ever decided to run for governor. I never expected to make that decision this year.”Since Gov. Blunt’s announcement I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from many Missourians who want to join my campaign for governor. After a great deal of thought and prayer over the last several weeks I have decided I will not run for governor this year, and will ask Missourians for their vote for Lt. Governor so we can continue our accomplishments for our veterans, seniors, workers and our shared Missouri values.

“This is a campaign I believe I would have won, but I also believe in my heart that this is the right decision. I hope it will help our Party unite so together we can tell Missourians a remarkable story of how together we turned our state around by turning a $1.1 billion deficit into three straight surpluses without raising taxes, ended the cuts to education while increasing funding for classrooms, transformed Missouri’s health care system and helped bring nearly 90,000 new jobs to our state by supporting job-creating initiatives and investing in tourism as we did by bringing the Tour of Missouri to our state.

“I am enormously grateful and appreciative of everyone who supported me for governor. I know I can count on their support for my re-election. We must unite and let Missourians know how much is at stake in this election. We cannot afford to return to the failed policies of the past. We must elect a governor who will keep the change working for Missouri and that makes every dollar count.”   

UPDATE 2: Here’s the video of Kinder’s announcement: