This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, May 1, 2012 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, the titular head of the state Democratic Party, is siding with U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. in his primary contest against fellow U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan.
The governor's move may be a sign that top Democrats are seeking to pressure Carnahan to reconsider his bid.
Nixon's endorsement of Clay is unusual for an intraparty contest — and a rarity for the governor, who prefers to stay out of internal party fights.
Allies contend that friendship, not politics, was the deciding factor. The governor and Clay have been friends for decades and used to play basketball together.
In a statement, the governor said, “For over 25 years, Lacy Clay has been a powerful voice for working families and a tireless advocate for the people of St. Louis. And throughout his long career in public service, I’ve considered Lacy a close personal friend. He’s the right man to continue serving the people of the 1st congressional district and I fully support his re-election.”
Clay and Carnahan have been tossed into the same 1st District under the state's new redistricting map that takes effect with this year's election, and they have opted to battle it out in the Aug. 7 primary. Carnahan decided against running in the new 2nd District, which also includes part of his current district but remains Republican-leaning.
Clay has sought to portray himself as the incumbent in the 1st, which he now represents. But Carnahan contends both should have that title because at least 20 percent of the new 1st comes from his current 3rd District, which was dismantled during redistricting.
Nixon's support for Clay follows earlier endorsements by the state's AFL-CIO, the St. Louis Labor Council, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.
But the governor's endorsement may carry more weight because it signals to Democratic activists and other officials that Clay is the preferred choice.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has not made an endorsement but has talked to both Clay and Carnahan in hopes of keeping their contest civil.
Carnahan, meanwhile, has the endorsement of the St. Louis area firefighters unions.
To heighten his profile, Carnahan also has been holding news conferences on various issues recently, including one Tuesday at Webster University on the importance of keeping interest rates low on federally administered student loans.
Carnahan and Clay had been allies, but Carnahan has been angry at Clay ever since the Republican-controlled General Assembly overrode Nixon's veto last spring of the new map. That in effect did away with Carnahan's current 3rd District. (The new 3rd District is largely the current 9th, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth.)
Carnahan contends that Clay persuaded two St. Louis area legislators to vote in favor of the override; Clay denies it.
The Missouri Supreme Court has yet to issue a final ruling on suits challenging the new map, even though candidate-filing ended March 27.
In a statement lauding Nixon's endorsement, Clay said, "This wonderful endorsement from Gov. Nixon means so much to me because we have been good friends and colleagues for many years. During our time serving together in the Missouri state Senate, Jay Nixon worked side by side with me to protect and grow good jobs and to strengthen Missouri families."
Clay added, "Gov. Nixon is leading Missouri with strength, energy and integrity. I thank him for his endorsement, and I look forward to supporting his re-election in November."
Nixon, meanwhile, has been in a difficult position ever since the Clay-Carnahan contest emerged. Aside from personal considerations, Nixon also is likely mindful of the racial implications. Clay's father, retired U.S. Rep. William L. Clay Sr., was the state's first African-American congressman. Nixon has had, at times, a testy relationship with some top African-American Democrats and likely does not want to rekindle any tensions.
Nixon is not as close to Russ Carnahan or his family, one of the state's marquee political names, but generally has been on good terms with the various Carnahans in politics.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, the congressman's sister, briefly entertained a possible bid for governor in 2008, which would have pitted her against Nixon in a Democratic primary. But she then opted to run for re-election instead.
In the early 1990s, then-Attorney General Nixon had a tenuous relationship with the congressman's late father, then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, who at times saw Nixon as a potential Democratic rival.
Nixon took the unusual step in 1996 of publicly making clear that he would not challenge the elder Carnahan's re-election.
