MO-Gov: Nixon to challenge Blunt

Democratic MO AG Jay Nixon is getting an early start for 2008:

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon filed the paperwork Thursday to launch a 2008 campaign for governor, resolving any doubts about his desire to replace Gov. Matt Blunt.

"In this step, my focus is on the people of Missouri and our incumbent governor," Nixon said in an interview with Post-Dispatch editorial writers and reporters. "I just think that the time is right."

Nixon, a Democrat, offered a scathing assessment about Blunt, a Republican who has been in office less than a year.

"It's a harder and more difficult question for me to answer about what they've done right than what they've done wrong," Nixon said, referring to Blunt's administration.

Blunt has the third lowest approval of any governor in the US, bringing up the rear with fellow Republicans Taft (OH), One-Term-Inator (CA), Fletcher (KY), and Murkowski (AK).