#False

The first line from this Post-Dispatch post by Jake Wagman on Peter Kinder's recent fundraising is not true. It reads: "Kinder still has not publicly said whether he'll run for the state's highest office next year."

In February 2010, Politico's Dave Catanese reported the following [emphasis added]:

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder told a gathering of college Republicans in Washington Friday that he plans on running for governor in 2012, according to two separate sources who heard the comments.

The announcement by the two-term Republican isn't itself surprising, but Missouri Republicans told POLITICO it was the first time they had heard Kinder address his plans so specifically in a public setting.

"I will be running for governor in two years," Kinder said, according to two Republicans who attended the luncheon at Jack's Restaurant in Dupont Circle.

Gossip columnist Jerry Berger has reported on at least two occasions that Kinder has confirmed that he'll be running in open conversations. As the whole world can read on BergersBeat.com:

LT. GOV. PETER KINDER WILL RUN FOR MISSOURI GOV.

Caught off-guard, the columnist asked Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder if he is going to run as the 56th Missouri governor. He exclaimed, “Yes!”  Then, he backtracked with another thought: “Er, I’ll make a decision in six weeks, but don’t write that.”  Ubiquitous Kinder  was among 300 in a stable of mostly elegant and timeless swells at the Memories and Melodies event atop the Chase Hotel to benefit Memory Care Home Solution (MCHS).

I understand why Kinder is maintaining a coy posture about his super duper official launch date;  he wants reporters and the pundit class to focus on whether or not he's running, not whether or not he has the mental and emotional fortitude to be governor.  

I do not understand why reporters ignore his own words and play into his games.