Kit Bond In a bombshell of a development, Missouri Sen. Kit Bond said Thursday he won't seek re-election in 2010.
The four-term senator made the announcement in Jefferson City.
"As a sixth-generation Missourian, I have always loved our state. Through 40 years in public life I have met many wonderful people," an advance copy of the speech said. "The people I have met along the way are the reason I ran for public office and the reason I am still here.
"I thank the voters of Missouri who elected me to represent them. There is no greater honor. I am truly blessed to have been entrusted by them with the responsibility of public office.”
The senator has scheduled a 2 p.m. conference call with supporters from across Missouri, but the announcement of that call did not say what the topic would be.
Prior to his speech before the state House, Bond was to speak to the state Senate GOP caucus. He scheduled a news conference in the state Capitol after his address.
The political scramble that will now ensue will be chaotic. One person to watch: seven-term Congressman Roy Blunt of southwest Missouri, a Republican and father of the current governor, who might be tempted into a race to succeed him.
Blunt stepped down from House leadership last year and is regarded as perhaps the only Republican who could clear the field to avoid a GOP primary.
Other Republicans who might be interested: Congressman Sam Graves, former Sen. Jim Talent and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
The Democrat most often mentioned for the seat: Robin Carnahan, the secretary of state, who has been laying the groundwork for a campaign for weeks.
John Hancock, a Missouri Republican consultant, said the announcement was closely guarded until this morning. "I believe the decision was made fairly recently," he said.
Bond has been a major booster of Kansas City over the years, snaring federal appropriations for a host of projects, including the new Internal Revenue Service center across from Union Station and getting $112 million for the new Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse downtown.
He also picked up $50 million for a new Paseo Bridge, $10 million for the new National Archives facility and $5 million for restoration of the Liberty Memorial.
A Bond retirement would mark the end of one of the most enduring political careers in state history. Besides his four terms in the Senate, Bond is a former two-term governor.
AWWE MAN!
Good riddance to another george bush loving neo-con