Carnahan to run for Bond’s Senate seat

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan on Tuesday announced that she will seek the state’s open Senate seat in 2010, handing national Democrats a top-tier recruit that they all but endorsed immediately.

Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.), the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement that Carnahan was the best candidate for the seat.

{mosads}Last year, she was reelected with the most votes in a statewide election in state history.

“She has a proven ability to garner votes across the state including the rural areas. Secretary Carnahan’s values of hard work and integrity are values she shares with all Missourians,” Menendez said. “She will make a superb United States senator and she will show that to the people of Missouri over the coming campaign.”

Carnahan, who posted a video and a statement on her political website announcing her candidacy, is not expected to draw serious primary opposition for Sen. Kit Bond’s (R-Mo.) seat. Bond last month announced he would not seek reelection.

“It’s time we had elected leaders who will stop the political bickering and start solving problems,” Carnahan said in her statement. “Like rebuilding our economy so that it works for everyone, making government accountable for every nickel it spends, and cracking down on the fraud and abuse both on Wall Street and in Washington. That’s why I’ve decided to run for the U.S. Senate.”

On the GOP side, Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.) is a leading contender, but former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman is also interested and visited Washington this week to explore a bid.