That’s what Multiple Republican sources told Politico. While sources familiar with Kinder’s plans told the Washington Post that Kinder will run for re-election as Lt. Governor.

The announcement is set for 3pm, which when you account for the rules of political events, means closer to 3:15.

Winners and losers if Kinder runs for Lt. Governor

Winners: Peter Kinder (if he loses, it’ll be far less of an embarrassment as losing by 15-20 to Jay Nixon would have. If he wins, 4 more years to get paid to tweet). Other Republicans who could run for Governor but weren’t (Sure, they’d still lose, but someone has to think they’re better than Dave Spence or Bill Randles). Dave Spence (“Hi, I’m Dave Spence, you’ve never heard of me, but can you just let me have the nomination? I have money!”)

Losers: Brad Lager and Chris McKee (Back to the drawing board. No down-ballot statewide incumbent has lost a primary in Missouri since 1934). Peter Kinder (Like he’s gonna have a shot at Governor in 2016. This is the ultimate tail-between-legs moment for a guy who is 5 for 5 in elections).

Not Sure: Susan Montee (It’s not like a tough race wasn’t still expected after Steven Tilley dropped out and now. Kinder’s Gubernatorial “campaign” isn’t going to be forgotten in 2012 either.)

Now, it’s 45 (or 60) minutes to the announcement. So there’s always a shot that Kinder just retires. But guys who get paid money to cover politics claim he’s running for Lt. Governor.

—-

Updates!:

From Aaron Blake on Twitter: “A reliable source tells me Dave Spence wrote himself a $2 million check for #MOGOV”

Blake also passes on claims of Kinder endorsing Spence while bailing on the race.

—-

From the announcement PR:

“After keeping his promise to Missourians to travel the state and discuss a potential race for Governor”

Awesome ‘promise’ dude.

PR summary: “I am awesome, things are bad, Dave Spence is more electable than I am”

Oh, wait. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r) hasn’t announced yet.

Dave Spence (r) has announced he’s running for governor. The Missouri Democratic Party had some thoughts on that announcement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2011

[….]

MDP Statement on Dave Spence Joining Governor’s Race

Jefferson City, Mo.-The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement today upon news reports that Dave Spence will run for Missouri Governor. Spence, a former businessman from St. Louis, headed a bank that has refused to repay its TARP funds and he made millions of dollars going into business with one of the Wall Street firms that helped create the financial crisis.

“It’s hard to imagine Republican primary voters supporting a guy like Dave Spence, who not only supported the bank bailouts – but even took a $40 million government bailout for his own bank and then refused to pay it back.  Right as the national recession was hitting Missouri families hard, David Spence got rich and had had no problem letting taxpayers pick up the bill for his failed bank,” said Caitlin Legacki, Missouri Democratic Party spokeswoman….

[….]

What Dave Spence Isn’t Telling You About His “Business Background:”

   Spence Served on the Board of a Troubled TARP Bank – Which Still Hasn’t Paid Back Bailout Funds. From 2005 until March 2011, David Spence served on the board of directors of Reliance Bank, which received $40 million in bailout money through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and yet still paid its CEO a lavish salary as well as bonuses and perks.  The bank was later the subject of action by the FDIC and the Fed earlier this year.  According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the bank stopped making payments on its TARP debt in November 2010.  (St. Louis Business Journal, 3/25/11; 8/9/11; St. Louis Post Dispatch, 5/13/05; St. Louis Business Journal, 10/7/11; Treasury.gov)

       Spence Defended Wall Street Bailout, Called It An “Extra Cushion of Capital”. When asked by the Associated Press about Reliance Bank’s decision to stop paying back the TARP money it owes, “Spence said he doesn’t recall any details about that decision, but he said the federal bank bailout program helped avoid a potential economic disaster by providing banks with ‘extra cushion of capital.'” [AP, 11/8/11]

   Spence’s Company Was Purchased by Wall Street Firm Tied to Financial Crisis and Bank Bailouts.  Last year, Spence’s company was purchased by a private equity firm called Irving Place Capital for a reported $260 million.  Irving Place Capital (formerly Bear Stearns Merchant Banking) was previously the private equity arm of the defunct investment bank Bear Stearns, which played a key role in causing the financial crisis and the global recession. After Bear Stearns collapsed and was acquired by JP Morgan (with the help of a$30 billion taxpayer guarantee from the Federal Reserve), Irving Place Capital spun off to become an independent private equity firm in November 2008.   [St. Louis Post Dispatch,9/1/10; Private Equity International, 10/28/08]

Dave Spence’s Bailout Timeline

   May 2005 — Spence Joins Reliance Board [St. Louis Post Dispatch, 5/13/05]

   February 2009 – Reliance Announces It Had Received $40 Million from TARP [St. Louis Business Journal, 2/23/09]

   April 2009 – Spence Is Re-nominated to Reliance Board of Directors [Reliance Bancshares, SEC filing 14A, 4/15/09]

   April 2009 — St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Reliance’s CEO made lavish salary + perks year bailout was passed.  [St. Louis Post Dispatch, 4/23/09]

   September 2010 — Spence buys 500,000 Shares of Reliance Stock [US Fed News, 9/25/10]

   February 2011 — Reliance Bancshares suspends TARP preferred dividends.  [SNL Bank Midwest, 2/24/11]

   March 2011 — Spence resigns from Reliance board  [SNL Bank Weekly Midwest, 3/21/11]

###

Heh.

Anyone think that the typical republican primary voter’s opinion of TARP and bailouts has changed since 2010?:

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Oct. 20-21, 2010. N=848 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4.2.

“Now thinking about the federal government’s actions in response to issues facing the U.S. today. Please tell me if you think each of the following was good for the country or bad for the country in general. First/Next, what about the government bailout of the financial and banking industries?”

Republicans

Good – 13%

Bad – 79%

Mixed (vol.) – 6%

Unsure – 2%

[emphasis added]

If Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r) announces for the race we’ll be watching that August primary and passing the popcorn.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) was born lucky, eh?

Previously: Campaign Finance: Gov. Jay Nixon (D) continues… (November 11, 2011)

Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commisssion:

C001135 11/12/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Benchmark HM LLC 1795 Clarkson Road Suite 200 Chesterfield MO 63017 11/10/2011 $25,000.00

C001135 11/12/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Richard Miller PO Box 777 Pittsburg KS 66762 Miller’s Professional Imaging CEO 11/10/2011 $10,000.00

C001135 11/12/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Express Scripts, Inc. One Express Way Saint Louis MO 63121 11/10/2011 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s a total of $45,000.00 yesterday for Governor Jay Nixon (D) and $0.00 for Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r). This is becoming routine

Previously:

Is Dave Spence a new GOP contender for governor? (October 23, 2011)

Campaign Finance: what’s this? (October 24, 2011):

C091145 10/24/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Davis Spence 2021 S. Warson Road St Louis MO 63124 Alpha Packaging President 10/24/2011 $5,500.00

[emphasis added]

And now this:

Businessman May Take on Kinder in GOP Race for Governor

November 4, 2011 4:00 AM

ST. LOUIS-(KMOX)-Peter Kinder may soon have another Republican nipping at his heels in the GOP primary for Governor.

Businessman Dave Spence, the President and CEO of Alpha Packaging,  in St. Louis County, says he is “strongly considering” a run for governor – whether or not Kinder runs…..

What changed in a little over a week’s time?

Meanwhile, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 11/02/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Burns & McDonnell PO Box 419173 Kansas City MO 64141 10/31/2011 $25,000.00

C001135 11/02/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Richard DeStefane 9200 Watson Road Suite 201 Saint Louis MO 63126 Reliant Care Management President 10/31/2011 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Pass the popcorn.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091145 10/24/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Davis Spence 2021 S. Warson Road St Louis MO 63124 Alpha Packaging President 10/24/2011 $5,500.00

[emphasis added]

What kind of trial balloon was this?:

Is Dave Spence a new GOP contender for governor? (October 23, 2011)

….Some sources are suggesting another contender, a (really) dark horse, one Dave Spence. According to Berger’s Beat, Spence was recently in Washington to meet with members of the Republican Governors Association “about self-funding a primary against Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.” Politico’s David Catanese also speculates that Spence, whom he describes as  “a chief executive at a packaging company,” is considering a run….

[emphasis added]

There must have been some really interesting phone calls.

The October 2011 quarterly campaign finance reports are showing up at the Missouri Ethics Commission. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r), sort of candidate for governor, filed his campaign finance report on October 15th:

REPORT SUMMARY

FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER [pdf] 10/15/2011

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $409,842.05

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $503,747.99

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $1,555,233.73

34. Total Indebtedness at the Close of This Reporting Period $3,641.12

[emphasis added]

More money going out than coming in.

Let’s take a look at some of the contributions:

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER [pdf] 10/15/2011

John Kendig Sikeston MO 63801 Self — Physican 7/1/2011 $250.00

John Sheets Cape Girardeau MO 63703 Self — surgeon 7/2/2011 $250.00

Amy Blanton Sikeston MO 63801 Self — Physician 7/7/2011 $250.00

Rex Sinquefield Westphalia MO 65085 Retired — Retired 7/9/2011 $50,000.00

Rex Sinquefield Westphalia MO 65085 Retired — Retired 7/9/2011 $32,191.35

Anheuser Busch Companies St. Louis MO 63118 7/19/2011 $10,000.00

Robert Robbins Charleston MO 63834 Self — Physician 7/20/2011 $250.00

Stanley Sides Cape Girardeau MO 63701 St. Francis Medical Center — Physician 7/20/2011 $150.00

Edward Bender Cape Girardeau MO 63701 St. Francis Medical Center — Physician 7/23/2011 $1,500.00

Rex Sinquefield Westphalia MO 65085 Retired — Retired 7/25/2011 $8,353.46

Victoria Damba Farmington MO 63640 Self — Physician 8/2/2011 $200.00

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cape Girardeau MO 63703 8/24/2011 $8/24/2011

Willeford Stoecker Cape Girardeau MO 63703 Cape Radiology — Physician 8/25/2011 $1,500.00

Andrew Walker Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Cape Anesthesia Group — Physician 8/25/2011 $250.00

Steven Bjelich Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Saint Francis Healthcare — Executive 8/26/2011 $1,500.00

Randall Stahly Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Physician 8/26/2011 $250.00

David Westrich Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Eye Care Specialists — Physician 8/27/2011 $1,500.00

Mark Gates Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Cape Radiology — Radiologist 8/27/2011 $250.00

Mark Vogt Clinton MO 64735 Golden Valley Medicals — Internist 8/29/2011 $2,000.00

CR Talbert Jr. Cape Girardeau MO 63703 Cardiovascular Consultants — Physician 8/30/2011 $2,500.00

Timothy Edwards Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Gastro Associates — Gastroenterologist 8/30/2011 $250.00

Jason Sawyer Wildwood MO 63040 Medtronic — Medical Sales Mgmt 8/30/2011 $250.00

Horace Schneider Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Gastro Associates — Gastroenterologist 8/30/2011 $250.00

D Shawn Parker Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Physician 9/2/2011 $500.00

Paul Holcomb Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Physician 9/7/2011 $2,500.00

Kaelin Dental Group Cape Girardeau MO 63703 9/7/2011 $2,500.00

David Croyle Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Cape Radiology — Physician 9/7/2011 $1,500.00

J. Thomas Critchlow Cape Girardeau MO 63703 Southeast Health — Physician 9/7/2011 $1,000.00

Nicole Allcock Jackson MO 63755 Southeast Health — Director of Pharmacy 9/7/2011 $250.00

Michael Bennett Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Dentist 9/8/2011 $250.00

Wayne Smith Cape Girardeau MO 63701 SE Health — CEO 9/12/2011 $500.00

Danny Berry Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Southeast Health — CEO 9/12/2011 $250.00

Donna Pritchard Cape Girardeau MO 63703 Self — Physician 9/12/2011 $250.00

Jeri Spence Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Innovative Orthodontics — Orthodontist 9/12/2011 $250.00

Jay Milne Springfield MO 65809 Milne Urology — Surgeon 9/12/2011 $200.00

Bethany Meadors Cape Girardeau MO 63701 St. Francis — Physician 9/13/2011 $250.00

Michael Clarke Springfield MO 65802 Self — Physician 9/15/2011 $250.00

Larry Petersen Springfield MO 65809 Sel — Physician 9/20/2011 $1,000.00

John Rowe St. Louis MO 63131 Bethesda Health Group Inc — Vice Chairman 9/21/2011 $500.00

David Johnson Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Pediatric Dentist 9/26/2011 $500.00

Donald Sallee St. Louis MO 63124 Self — Physician 9/28/2011 $1,000.00

Joel Ray Cape Girardeau MO 63701 Self — Physician 9/29/2011 $1,500.00

James Murphy St. Joseph MO 64506 Murphy-Watson-Barr Exp. Ctrs — Opthomologist 9/29/2011 $500.00

Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Fund St. Charles MO 63302 9/30/2011 $50,000.00

Sam Fox St. Louis MO 63105 Harbour Group — Founder 9/30/2011 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

What, nothing from organized labor (working people!)? There are a number of doctors and other medical interests. You’ve got to wonder why. It must be the Lieutenant Governor’s well-documented concern for those in need. And, of course, there are plenty of attorneys.

And that significant burn rate?:

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER [pdf] 10/15/2011

Veritas Public Relations Springfield MO 65802 7/1/2011 Polling and Research $12,000.00

Axiom Strategies LLC Kansas City MO 64116 7/5/2011 Polling and Research $12,000.00

Show Me Politics LLC St. Louis MO 63129 7/5/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 7/13/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

J. Harris Company LLC jefferson City MO 65101 7/14/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 7/27/2011 Polling and Research $10,000.00

American Viewpoint Alexandria VA 22314 7/28/2011 Polling and Research $28,000.00

Veritas Public Relations Springfield MO 65802 8/1/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Axiom Strategies LLC Kansas City MO 64116 8/1/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Show Me Politics LLC St. Louis MO 63129 8/1/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 8/10/2011 Opposition Research $25,000.00

J. Harris Company LLC Jefferson City MO 65101 8/19/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

Tyler Holman St. Louis MO 63119 8/19/2011 Polling and Research $7,500.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 8/19/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

Amercian Viewpoint Alexandria VA 22314 8/22/2011 Polling and Research $28,000.00

Axiom Strategies LLC Kansas City MO 64116 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Show Me Politics LLC St. Louis MO 63129 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

Veritas Public Relations Springfield MO 65802 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $6,000.00

J. Harris Company LLC Jefferson City MO 65101 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

American Viewpoint Alexandria VA 22314 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $23,700.00

Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research Oklahoma City OK 73103 8/23/2011 Polling and Research $1,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 8/23/2011 Opposition Research $18,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 9/1/2011 Polling and Research $5,000.00

Barklage Company St. Louis MO 63105 9/15/2011 Opposition Research $20,500.00

[emphasis added]

There was a whole lot of polling and research going on. You’ve got to wonder why, at least for some of it.

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r) has pulled in a few more high dollar contributions for his not yet official run for governor. Anyone think he hasn’t decided to run yet?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: on the last day of the quarter (September 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: throwing good money after bad? (September 21, 2011)

Last night, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091145 09/30/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER William Bush 37 Picardy Lane St Louis MO 63124 Bush O’Donnell Chairman 9/30/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/30/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Sam Fox 7701 Forsyth Blvd. Ste. 600 St Louis MO 63105 Harbour Group Executive 9/30/2011 $25,000.00

C091145 09/30/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER HBE Corporation 11330 Olive Blvd. St Louis MO 63141 9/30/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/30/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER James Hebenstreit 5828 Pembroke Court Mission Hills KS 66208 Bartlett & Co. Executive 9/30/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/30/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Fund PO Box 1013 St Charles MO 63302 9/30/2011 $50,000.00

That’s a total of $90,003.00. Don’t you just love those round numbers?

And from some of the usual suspects. It seems that republicans will always have all the money the need…

Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, first, from Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) campaign:

C001135 09/26/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI UFCW Local 655 Elect Political Fund 300 Weidman Road Ballwin MO 63011 9/26/2011 $10,000.00

C001135 09/26/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Jeffrey Fort 7745 Spanish Lake Drive Las Vegas NV 89113 Self Business Investor 9/26/2011 $10,595.58

[emphasis added]

Hmm. That last one is an odd amount. Do you think he emptied out his piggy bank? Well, it could be that.

Then, there’s Lieutenant Governor (R) Peter Kinder‘s campaign getting those “plus one dollar” contributions after the long drought:

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Robert Hermann 777 Cella Road St Louis MO 63124 Retired Retired 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Menlo Smith 15009 Manchester Rd. # 284 Ballwin MO 63011 Sunmark Capital Corp. Chairman 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Hunter Engineering Company 11250 Hunter Drive Bridgeton MO 63044 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Randy Herzog 600 S Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64502 Herzog Contracting Executive 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Orscheln Management Co. 2000 US Hwy 63 South Moberly MO 65270 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

C091145 09/26/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Douglas Albrecht 16 Upper Ladue Road St Louis MO 63124 Bodley Group Executive 9/26/2011 $5,001.00

[emphasis added]

Just making sure that everyone else knows about their heavy hitter contributions to the beleaguered leading republican candidate (still, not officially) for governor?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Keeping up with the Governor? Not so much – part 2 (September 23, 2011)

Campaign Finance: throwing good money after bad? (September 21, 2011)

Previously: Campaign Finance: Keeping up with the Governor? Not so much… (September 22, 2011)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 09/23/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI AgXplore International, LLC PO Box 638 Parma MO 63870 9/21/2011 $25,000.00

C001135 09/23/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Ironworkers Political Education Fund 1750 New York Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington DC 20006 9/21/2011 $10,000.00

C001135 09/23/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Hammond and Shinners, PC 7730 Carondelet Avenue Suite 200 Saint Louis MO 63105 9/21/2011 $10,000.00

Governor Jay Nixon (D) continues to haul in the big contributions.