Tom Schweich

Politico's Dave Catanese posted a series of interesting tweets on Saturday about Tom Schweich's campaign for State Auditor.  In chronological order:

• 8:38 PM - Bad buzz about Schweich from even those who support him. He's steamed he has a primary when he cut a deal. Ala [Florida Governor Charlie] Crist, welcome to the NFL.
   
• 9:14 PM - GOPer says Schweich needs to learn from @RoyBlunt in approach. Roy takes his licks, but smiles, brushes off like Jay-Z. Schweich gets mad.
   
• 9:32 PM - Schweich should devote a speech to his $500 contrib. to @clairecmc. Say if the GOP wants to b party that excludes indys, it won't prevail.
   
• 9:41 PM - No, @allenicet [primary opponent Allen Icet] doesn't inspire. But Schweich is turning people off. RT @davesmith3: @davecatanese is @alanicet really crushing it THAT much?

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder wrote state auditor candidate Thomas Schweich a $100,000 check on New Year's Eve -- a sizable donation, especially from a candidate who still showed more than $400,000 in his own campaign debts in his last campaign finance report.

As the Post-Dispatch's Tony Messenger notes in his post about the donation, Kinder's strong support for Schweich (a thank you for not pursuing the US Senate?) puts him at odds with most all of the House Republicans, who have backed House Budget Chair Allen Icet in the GOP primary for auditor.

Last week, the Thomas Schweich campaign announced endorsements from five state senators, including Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City).

There appears to be a small problem with that announcement: Scott says he never actually agreed to endorse Schweich, and he supports Rep. Allen Icet in the GOP primary for State Auditor.

That listing was unauthorized by me," concluding with, "I continue my strong support for Allen Icet for State Auditor."

According to a first-hand account of his locker-room presser, Tom Schweich is spending money for a State Auditor's race.  Specifically, he is paying an internet vendor for a campaign website.

And yet, Schweich has yet to establish a campaign finance committee with the State Ethics Commission.  The Missouri Ethics Law requires Schweich to establish a committee and report his finances once he  "receives contributions or makes expenditures...  with the intent to promote [his] candidacy for office"

You would expect more from the e-steamed Ambassador in Residence at the Washington University School of Law.  Absolutely mind-blowing.

The pro-Roy Blunt and anti-Thomas Schweich forces are working to nip this whole Senate campaign thing in the bud.  Schweich says he's "flattered" by the attention, and what he calls a "vintage Washington-style smear campaign" against him. For now, anyway. 

Via JohnCombest.com, we see that Townhall.com blogger Matt Lewis is particularly concerned with Sen. Danforth's alleged hatred of conservatives, Schweich's service at the UN and the fact that Danforth and Schweich have worked together.

Meet John Danforth, former Republican Senator from Missouri and diplomat in the George W. Bush administration. After leaving the Bush administration, he has made a career out of attacking conservatives and Republicans. 

He co-founded the Republican Leadership Council with Christie Todd Whitman to advance social liberals within the Republican Party. He also led the fight as honorary co-chair of the 2006 ballot initiative to support embryonic stem-cell research in Missouri.  You get the point. He’s not a conservative...

Pretty, pretty please:

Congressman Roy Blunt wasted no time reaching out to Tom Schweich Monday, hours after the former U.S. ambassador and Washington University law professor told reporters he was interested in running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

"Roy Blunt would welcome Mr. Schweich's support in our campaign," said spokesman Rich Chrismer in a statement sent to The Notebook."As Senator Bond said last week, Roy has the desire and the ability to unite our party which is why he has wide and broad support from grassroots volunteers to Missouri's elected officials," Chrismer added.

Why?

"This has a potential to cut majorly into Roy's fundraising base," said one St. Louis Republican, speaking freely on the condition of anonymity. "These are some big names lining up behind Schweich [e.g., Sen. Jack Danforth, Sam Fox, Bert Walker]. Big money Republicans that give $2 or $4-thousand dollars every cycle," the Republican continued.