By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has announced she will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kit Bond next year.
Carnahan's announcement was videotaped and posted to YouTube and to her newly-unveiled campaign website, robincarnahan.com.
"It's time we had elected leaders ready to stop the bickering and start solving problems, like rebuilding our economy so that it works for everyone, and making government accountable for every nickel it spends," Carnahan said.
Carnahan also touted her experience as Secretary of State as preparing her for the U.S. Senate.
University of Missouri - St. Louis Political Science Professor Dave Robertson says Carnahan will be the automatic front-runner.
"She will be a formidable candidate...she's known statewide, she has received an awful lot of votes statewide, and will have name recognition in every corner of the state," Robertson said.
Robertson adds that her track record as Secretary of State and her ability to raise money will also make her tough to beat.
But Missouri Republican Party spokeswoman Tina Hervey compares Carnahan to Caroline Kennedy.
"She's coming from a well-known, and in some corners, well-respected political family, and so it's the stardust...everyone's hearing her name, everyone's mesmerized, still living off, unfortunately, the death of her father," Hervey said.
Robin Carnahan's father, Governor Mel Carnahan, was killed in a plane crash in 2000.
Hervey lists Congressman Roy Blunt, former Senator Jim Talent, and former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman as potential GOP challengers.