Democrats in Missouri held there state convention over the weekend. Although nearly united in their support for presumptive presidential nominee John Kerry and US Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, the Democrats seem to be split over whether to support incumbent Governor Bob Holden or challenger, state auditor Claire McCaskill. Beneath the facade of Democratic unity, a power struggle was taking place on the convention floor between Holden and McCaskill loyalists....
http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2004/04/18/news_state/0418040008.txt
Claire McCaskill was prevented from speaking at the convention, and Governor Holden apparently tried to keep McCaskill's campaign treasurer Sandra Query from being reelected as a Democratic National Committeewoman.
Although Holden had the stage to himself among gubernatorial candidates, another battle was quietly taking place in the balloting for Democratic National Committee seats.
Despite Holden's attempts to replace Query, she was reelected to serve on the DNC, recording more votes than either of the two candidates put forth on the slate favored by Holden.
Announcement of Query's victory was met with raucous cheers from sectors of the convention audience, perhaps to the dismay of Holden loyalists.
This race is likely to evolve into a rather nasty primary contest, and Holden will be seriously tested, if not outright defeated by McCaskill.
Unfortunately, Republican candidate Matt Blunt may also benefit if the struggle between Holden and McCaskill carries over into their ad campaigns and drives up each candidate's negatives while Blunt stays out of the fray.
In any case, this primary should be very very interesting--and the primary and general elections could be decided by razor thin margins.