Matt Blunt is having a press conference at 4:30pm CST and local news channels in Kansas City are reporting he will announce that he will not be seeking re-election in 2008.
Between the email scandal (using MO GOP accounts, missing emails, etc - sound familiar?), the questionable business practices, the Medicaid cuts, the rising unemployment, his Republican attorney suing him, and much, much more, Matt Blunt is throwing in the towel.
Check out Fired Up Missouri for a better run down of his misdeeds.
I'll update with official links as they become available. The press conference should begin shortly.
Update: Here is his press release:
With Campaign Promises Fulfilled, Gov. Blunt Will Not Seek Second Term
Gov. Blunt Releases Television Address to Missourians
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today released a television address to Missourians announcing that having achieved virtually everything he set out to accomplish when he ran for governor he will not seek a second term.
Hahahahahaha! Apparently the "wants to spend more time with his family" excuse is all played out. But, even by Repubblican standards, this is a bit of stretch.
Let's see if this doesn't boost Jay Nixon, who is the well-known Democratic candidate for Governor. He was in good shape before this announcement and there is no way to spin this other than bad news for the MO GOP.
Update #2 Hat tip to St Louis Woman who pointed me to the St Louis Post Dispatch Blog where they are reporting they contacted Lt. Governor Pete Kinder and he said there is a "decent chance" he'll step in and run. Double hat tip to St Louis Woman for also pointing out that Matt Blunt was already running re-election ads in Missouri. It seems that something wicked must be going on behind the scenes. I can't wait to find out why he has suddenly changed his mind.
Update #3: Hat tip to Glic, Matt Blunt's announcement in his own words: