Seven candidates run for Missouri lieutenant governor

KANSAS CITY, Mo - The race for Missouri's second highest political office is suddenly heating up.

The seventh confirmed candidate jumped in Monday, and there could be more.

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is running for re-election.

But that's after he dropped out of running for governor.

Others started lining up to challenge him, and the field keeps getting more crowded.

Springfield State Rep. Sara Lampe became the fourth Democrat to announce a run for Missouri's second in command.

That turns it into the biggest Democratic race in the August primary.

"We are in challenging times in Missouri. And Missouri is now ready for leadership skills and the experiences I've had," said Lampe as she announced her candidacy.

Lampe is taking on former state auditor Susan Montee.

Montee says as party chairman last year she tried to recruit Lampe and other candidates, but decided to run herself when they all said no.

Other candidates include Judy Baker and Becky Plattner.

Monday Montee launched her official campaign website and told me she's "100 percent in" and has "no intention of stepping down" now that others have joined the race.

"If I'm Susan Montee, I'm furious. The fact that you were out there trying to get others to run, and when you yourself step forward, then all of a sudden other folks step forward, it's very unusual," said Jason Klindt when we asked him to take a look at the race.

He's a Republican strategist.

On the Republican side, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, the incumbent, is fighting to save his job after a series of political missteps.

Two other Republicans are running against Kinder already (Brad Lager & Mike Carter), with more considering the race (Luann Ridgeway & maybe Tom Scweich).

"This is about selecting the next generation of party leadership. What these folks are all hoping to do, is get themselves where they can run for governor or in either four or 8 years."

The race is fourth down on the ballot.

Klindt says how much attention voters give to the race depends what happens with those higher races.

In the August primary, the lieutenant governor's race will be the highest profile Democratic contest.

On the Republican side, this race is big, but so is one higher up the ballot, the battle to choose a challenger to incumbent Claire McCaskill in the U.S. Senate race.