Bond: Barnes Knows How To Work With Others To Get Things Done

Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) continued the recent stream of GOP praise for outgoing Mayor Kay Barnes as she considers a bid to challenge Rep. Sam Graves (R-Westar).

The Hill reports that at a press conference yesterday, Bond said of Barnes:

“Obviously the mayor and I are of different political parties, but the people of Kansas City expect elected leaders to work together to get things done,” Bond said in the release. “Because of [Barnes’s] commitment and dedication, Kansas City is a better place to live and work.”

This follows the unusual public display of admiration of Barnes from House Speaker Rod Jetton.

The fact that these GOP leaders are going so far out on a limb to praise Barnes speaks both to her unique gift at working with others to solve problems facing her constituents and to Graves' ineffectiveness and inability to work well with others.

Professor Richard Fulton put it this way in today's KC Star:

Richard Fulton, political science professor at Northwest Missouri State University, said Bond is sending a signal to his supporters that they can back Barnes with his tacit approval. Fulton said the news conference is a further sign of a split in the Republican Party in Missouri.

“The Bond people just do not like the way Graves does business with (campaign consultant Jeff) Roe and his crew of attack politics,” Fulton said.

Fulton said Bond won’t overtly endorse Barnes, but could offer behind-the-scenes campaign help to ensure she isn’t blindsided by any attack from Roe.

Stay tuned for further developments in the dramatic split within the MO GOP.