Today’s Missouri Press Association debate presented a stark contrast between Gov. Jay Nixon’s strong, fiscally responsible leadership and Dave Spence’s desperate and dishonest campaign.  As Gov.

Today, the St.

Today, as Missouri Republicans kick off a “victory” bus tour of the state, Dave Spence continues to be dogged by questions about his bank’s $40 million bailout and why he voted not to repay it.   Even at his own Primary Election Night party in St.

Tonight, after spending more $3 million of his own money on his campaign, Dave Spence beat his unknown opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary.  However, lingering concerns about Spence’s credibility and judgment will prove much more difficult to overcome.

Dave Spence may have an overwhelming financial advantage over his primary opponent Bill Randles, but that hasn’t dispelled serious concerns among the press and even his conservative allies about his record as a St. Louis banker.  Over the past several days, both his hometown paper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Missouri Republican Assembly endorsed Bill Randles in the GOP primary – snubbing frontrunner Dave Spence.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Yesterday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence again refused to explain why he voted against repaying his bank’s $40 million bailout from Washington back to taxpayers.  Instead – despite being repeatedly called out by members of the press for lying about his record at the bank -- Spence offered perhaps his most misleading statement of all:  “I’ve told the truth from the very beginning about all these issues.” [

Jefferson City, MO.— The Missouri Democratic Party announced today the remaining members of Missouri’s 2012 Democratic National Convention delegation were successfully elected at the Missouri Democratic State Convention.  Hundreds of delegates from all 114 counties cast their vote for Missouri’s National Democratic Convention delegation. 

  Steelman Wants Big Banks to Decide Who Gets to Go to College; Interest Rate on Stafford Loans Set to Double on July 1

 After Week of Bad Press, Steelman Launches Desperate Attacks

 McCaskill Threatened On Stage At Steelman Tea Party Rally, Steelman Defends Activist

Jefferson City, Mo.—The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement after Sarah Steelman refused to condemn a death threat made against Senator Claire McCaskill during a Tea Party rally thrown on behalf of Steelman’s candidacy last week. Steelman was in attendance when the threat was made and issued a statement today that she "emphatically supports" the man who threatened McCaskill's life.

 Akin, Brunner, Steelman Support Efforts to Let Big Banks Decide Who Goes to College

Jefferson City, Mo.--Today, Republicans prevented a vote to pass the reauthorization of federal student loan funding, a move that could have a devastating impact on thousands of Missouri students and families who are simply trying to get ahead. If they were in the Senate today, it’s clear that Akin, Brunner and Steelman would have voted to protect the big banks and leave Missouri’s families out to dry.

Jefferson City, Mo.-- In an interview yesterday, Sarah Steelman was asked to comment on her recent gaffe regarding the Violence Against Women Act and responded by calling the issue a 'distraction.' Steelman, a candidate for US Senate, refused once again to say how she would have voted on the Senate bill, which was passed 68-31 in the Senate last week.

Silence a Clear Sign Missouri Senate Candidates Would Have Opposed Measure Protecting Women and Families

Missouri Middle Class Families Face Rate Hike, but Akin, Steelman, Brunner Refuse to Commit to Any Action

Candidate Has Zero Individual Donors from Kansas City, Just One From Springfield - but Eight from Florida

Donor Gave Spence Campaign $2.25 Million After Taking a $40 Million Bailout for His Bank and Lying to the Press About Repaying It

Jefferson City, Mo.—Just two weeks after Senate candidate John Brunner announced he’s opposed to “special tax advantages for special industries,” Brunner came out in favor of protecting $20 billion in tax giveaways for the big five oil companies. Brunner's position, first reported in the Springfield News-Leader, further underscores Brunner’s misplaced economic priorities and refusal to come clean with Missourians about where he stands on a wide variety of issues.

 Meanwhile, Akin Doubles Down on Ryan Plan, Steelman Says It Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Jefferson City, Mo.—At today’s RCGA debate, Senate candidates John Brunner, Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin once again showed their priorities in the Senate would be protecting billions of dollars in tax breaks for Big Oil while cutting safety net programs for Missouri’s families and seniors.  

Jefferson City, Mo.— As House Republicans prepare to vote today on their latest risky Medicare privatization scheme, Senate candidates Todd Akin, John Brunner and Sarah Steelman are once again turning their backs on Missouri’s seniors in an effort to protect $40 billion in giveaways to oil companies.   

Akin Has Endorsed Reckless Budget Proposal, Brunner and Steelman Too Scared to Say Where they Stand 

Jefferson City, Mo.—As part of ongoing efforts to hide their support for privatizing Medicare, Senate candidates John Brunner and Sarah Steelman refuse to say how they would vote on the House budget proposal that would privatize Medicare while protecting $40 billion in tax breaks for oil companies. The House is expected to vote on the bill, which has the support of Todd Akin, later this week.

Jefferson City, Mo.—The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement today after Fred Sauer filed to run for Governor in the Republican primary.

Ad Highlights Article That Says Spence Graduated from MU Business School; Spence Later Admitted Degree was Home Economics, Didn’t Have Grades to Get Into Business School

Jefferson City, MO.-- Missouri Democrats will once again have the opportunity to vote and express their preference for the Democratic Nominee while they begin the process of electing delegates to the Missouri State Convention. 

Ad Shot on Vi-Jon’s Factory Floor, Brunner Took $400,000 Salary While Laying Off Dozens of Missouri Workers

Jefferson City, Mo.—Just days after revealing he doesn’t know the minimum wage, John Brunner further underscored how out of touch he is by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on another misleading ad today, shot on the same factory floor where Brunner recently laid off dozens of Missouri workers while taking nearly $400,000 in salary.

Jefferson City, MO.- Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Mike Sanders announced today the appointment of Kelsey Thompson, a seasoned veteran of Missouri politics, as the new Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party.

 Spence’s Statements Conflict With Statements Made to Federal Authorities

Jefferson City, Mo.—Tomorrow, March 15, marks exactly one year since David Spence’s resignation from the board of Reliance Bank, which received a $40 million bailout and still hasn’t repaid the taxpayers. Since entering the race in December, Spence has refused to explain his conflicting statements about his decision to leave the bank board or disclose how much he personally benefited from the bank’s $40 million bailout.

Huckabee Chooses Akin as the #MOSen Conservative while Brunner and Steelman Fall Short; All Three Fight to Protect Oil Tax Loophole

Jefferson City, Mo.—Just over one year since it announced it would stop repaying its $40 million bank bailout, Dave Spence’s former bank announced Friday it is still losing money to the tune of $34 million last year, as opposed to losses of $48.5 million during the previous year, when Spence still served on the board of directors.

Lincoln Day Speakers Jindal and McDonnell Spoke Out Against Bailouts Like Spence’s

Jefferson City, Mo.-- Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Mike Sanders released the following statement tonight after polls closed in the Democratic Presidential Primary:

Jefferson City, Mo.— At tonight’s Republican debate, Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin threw punches at each other on the subject of earmarks.

Akin Endorses Flat and Fair Tax, Steelman called for Flat Tax, Brunner Silent Again

Jefferson City, Mo.--The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement today after Ed Martin announced he is running for Attorney General:

Jefferson City, Mo.—After being caught distributing campaign literature that inaccurately stated David Spence graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Business, Spence blamed “staff oversight” for the inaccuracies. But news reports show that Spence has willingly allowed his academic credentials to be exaggerated since 1989.

After Calling for Series of Debates, Brunner Campaign Back in Hiding 

Spence At Odds with Many Leading Business Organizations and Mainstream Republicans

Jefferson City, Mo.— After John Brunner made a spectacle calling for a series of debates last week, his campaign is now slamming the brakes on a debate scheduled for January 10 in St. Louis.  According to host McGraw Milhaven at KTRS, Senate candidates Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin have both accepted an invitation to debate on his show, while Brunner’s campaign refuses to respond. 

Jefferson City, Mo.—Following on the heels of its memo raising serious doubts about John Brunner's record as a “job creator,” the Missouri Democratic Party today issued a series of 10 questions to Brunner about his company’s recent layoffs and his profits-before-people mentality.

Jefferson City, Mo.— In campaign ads, John Brunner calls himself a “job creator,” but newspapers across the country tell a different story:

“Germ-Ex: Senate hopeful Brunner's company trims workforce,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch [10/27/11]

  Spence’s email announcement hints at “controversial” positions — too controversial for his own site?

Jefferson City, Mo.--After spending his first days as a candidate defending his bank's bailout, ducking questions about his bank’s refusal to repay $42 million in TARP funds, and owning up to a 2004 drunk driving arrest, Republican David Spence attempted to buy his way out of trouble by contributing $2 million to his own campaign on Wednesday. The donation leaves Missourians wondering whether Spence is now using their taxpayer funds to finance his own political campaign. 

Jefferson City, Mo.—Just days after endorsing his fraternity brother’s campaign for Governor, Missouri Lt.

Jefferson City, Mo.—The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement today after Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced today he will not seek the Republican nomination for Governor.

Jefferson City, Mo.—The Missouri Democratic Party called on Dave Spence today to come clean about the circumstances surrounding his bank’s failure to repay its $40 million government bailout.  After making it clear that he fully supported the bank bailout, Spence told PoliticMo that he left the bank because of its failure to repay the taxpayers – an explanation in direct contradiction with statements filed by the bank with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Jefferson City, Mo.— John Brunner's choice to announce for the US Senate today, less than 36 hours after the deadline for financial information reported to the Federal Election Commission, was timed to avoid transparency and disclosure. This is the latest move in Brunner’s five-month attempt to dodge compliance with federal election laws.

St. Louis, Mo. – According to an audit released today by the State Auditor’s Office, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder had a clear conflict of interest when he voted multiple times to send millions of tax dollars to a private corporation when Kinder served as the corporation’s president and chairman. The audit also reprimands Kinder for failing to properly disclose his role as chairman of Tour of Missouri Inc.

McCain Says Akin, Steelman Proposals “Bizarre,” “Foolish,” “Deceiving”

Kinder, Perry Share Affinity for Living Large on Taxpayer's Dime

Did She or Didn’t She: Hours After Web Video, Steelman Refuses to Say How

Akin Compares His Potential Felony to American Troops in Fallujah

Akin Changed His Voting Address on Same Day As Felony Allegations

Auditor’s Office Announces Leisurely “Review” of Kinder

Chairwoman Susan Montee Celebrates Strong Recovery of GM, Chrysler

Kinder Admits Delaying $35K Payment for Legal Reasons; Highlights the Need for Independent Review

"Today’s is unfortunate news for Missourians: we will lose a representative in the U.S. House of Representatives after 2012. That missing Missouri vote will make a big difference some time over the next ten years – whether it is a Democratic vote or a Republican one."

Jefferson City, Mo. – For months on the campaign trail, newly-elected Republicans like Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long railed against health reform that would ensure that Americans get the same quality insurance as members of Congress. Today, however, it is a much different story. Now, Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long are set to accept the same type of quality health care that they want to deny their constituents and the American people.

Congressman Blunt has become the consummate Washington insider who will do anything for the corporate special interests while leaving Missouri behind. And even though Congressman Blunt continues to dodge questions and refuses to answer for his 14-year Washington record, Congressman Blunt cannot run from the truth.