Bond Refuses To Rule Out Endorsment Of Barnes

Roll Call had a phenomenal story (sub req'd) yesterday on the potential match-up between former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Westar).

In the piece, Senator Kit Bond refused to rule out an endorsement of Barnes saying:

Take Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.). In a meeting last month at Kansas City’s City Hall, the Show Me State’s senior Senator lavished accolades on a soon-to-be-retired mayor Barnes, a northwestern Missouri native widely rumored in recent months to covet Graves’ House seat.

“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. I commend Mayor Barnes for putting partisan politics aside when it comes to issues of importance to Kansas City,” Bond told the media during the April 23 meeting in Barnes’ office. “Because of your commitment and dedication, Kansas City is a better place to live and work.”

Bond said Wednesday that it’s much too early in the cycle to draw conclusions about a race that, with Barnes’ candidacy undeclared, is still hypothetical. Still, he didn’t rule out categorically a cross-party endorsement.

“I haven’t even looked at that yet,” Bond said. “We’ll see if she runs.”

The piece also noted GOP Speaker Rod Jetton's recent praise for Barnes:

Less than two weeks before Bond’s visit to City Hall, Missouri state Speaker Rod Jetton (R) also cast a twilight zone-esque light on a potential Barnes-Graves matchup, while presenting Barnes with an award on the state House floor.

“Of course, I’m a Republican and she’s a Democrat, but she’s reached across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to help us understand what Kansas City needs,” Jetton said. “I don’t think Kansas City could have had a more a more pleasant, friendly, good person. ... And the expansion that’s taken place in that city, what a great thing that is for the state of Missouri.”

Here's how an unnamed GOP strategist characterized Graves problem:

“It’s something internal,” the strategist said. “There’s been bad blood for a while.”

This is going to stay very interesting...