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Schweich's silence could speak volumes about possible 2012 bid for governor

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Nov. 22, 2011 - State Auditor Tom Schweich on Tuesday gave a swift "no comment'' about a possible Republican bid for governor in 2012, which arguably feeds the flames of speculation that Schweich -- in office for less than a year -- might be pondering the idea.

In a brief phone interview, Schweich said he had "no comment on the governor's race'' but would discuss the matter "in due time."

Schweich already is in the midst of a court fight against Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, over the governor's powers to withhold or redirect state money.

Schweich's possible interest in replacing Nixon as governor comes after last Friday's surprise announcement by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a fellow Republican, that he was dropping his expected 2012 challenge of Nixon and was running for re-election instead.

Kinder also endorsed wealthy St. Louis businessman David Spence, a former fraternity brother, for the gubernatorial nod.

Two years ago, Schweich returned to his home state after more than a decade spent largely in Washington or overseas. (Click here to read his campaign biography.)

He was chief of staff to former Sen. John C. Danforth, R-Mo., when Danforth was tapped in the late 1990s to probe the federal government's actions during the 1993 confrontation at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Tex. Schweich then served as chief of staff to three U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations and subsequently joined the State Department where he headed up anti-narcotic activities overseas.

Danforth initially promoted Schweich as a possible 2010 candidate for the U.S. Senate, but Schweich ended up running for state auditor instead. He ousted Democratic incumbent Susan Montee in the November 2010 election.

Schweich's major financial backers in 2010 included business magnate Sam Fox and Kinder.

During his 2010 bid, Schweich said several times -- including during the sole debate with Montee -- that he would serve a full four-year term if elected. But it's not unusual for a politician to change his or her mind about such pledges, if opportunities arise.

Private GOP talk is that Schweich has been talking to potential donors like Fox to gauge support should he run for governor. Schweich would need to lock up some significant financial backing pretty quickly since the November 2012 election is less than a year away, and Nixon already has raised almost $7 million -- with just over $4.2 million in the bank, as of his report last month.

Spence's emergence reflects that financial necessity since he has said he plans to fund at least part of his campaign himself -- and he presumably has a few millions of dollars on hand to do it.

On the upside, Schweich would have nothing politically to lose since -- if he would lose to Nixon in 2012 -- he would still be auditor until 2014.

Schweich's allies also note that Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., had just been elected auditor in 1970 when he turned around and launched a successful bid for governor in 1972. But in 1996, then-state Auditor Margaret Kelly, a Republican, got little boost from her post when she unsuccessfully challenged then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat.

When asked about Schweich today, state Republican Party chairman David Cole said in a statement: "Tom Schweich has proven to be an outstanding state auditor, uncovering waste, fraud, and abuse in state government. His performance as Missouri taxpayers' top watchdog -- combined with his previous service to the nation as an ambassador -- shows that he is a leader and a statesman who is well positioned to serve Missouri now and into the future."

The state GOP has been scrambling to find candidates for various statewide offices and still has no declared contenders for attorney general or state treasurer.

The party notes, however, that Missouri Democrats have yet to find 2012 challengers to any of the state's six Republican members of the U.S. House. And the Missouri Republican Party has reported a far fatter bank account than the state Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, another name is being floated around as a possible Republican challenger for governor: state Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau. Crowell will be forced out of office by term limits in 2012. He also has been a major player in a number of legislative battles, notably those over state tax credits and the St. Louis area effort to persuade China to locate a cargo hub at Lambert St. Louis International Airport.

Crowell had yet to return phone calls Tuesday from the Beacon.

As for Schweich, he sent out a press release this afternoon -- announcing that he had hired a new legislative advisor, Jeff Earl. Earl replaces Mike Lodewegen who left in November to take a job with the Missouri School Administrators Association.

The state Democratic Party countered with a swift jab at Schweich. "Tom Schweich has been a politically motivated state auditor, so it's not surprising that he'd already be thinking about his own political future after less than a year on the job," said party spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki. "This guy is all politics, all the time."

Jo Mannies is a freelance journalist and former political reporter at St. Louis Public Radio.