Schweich mulling U.S. Senate bid

State Auditor Tom Schweich (PoliticMo Photo)

— After months of privately mulling over a possible gubernatorial bid, Republican state Auditor Tom Schweich is considering another option: Jumping into the race for the nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill later this year.

Schweich, a former State Department official in the Bush administration, is seriously considering entering the what is already a three-way GOP primary race for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, Missouri Republican sources told PoliticMo on the condition of anonymity.

Schweich, the sources said, believes he has a real opportunity in the unsettled GOP field. Because U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, and St. Louis businessman John Brunner have struggled to raise campaign funds and significant momentum for their campaigns, Schweich believes major donors on the sidelines would be willing to support him.

In 2010, Schweich also considered a run for Senate, but he decided against it after Missouri Republicans — who coalesced behind then-U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt’s Senate campaign — promised their support for his campaign for state Auditor.

If he decided on a run, opponents would likely reference a 2010 interview he gave to a Springfield television station when he explicitly said he would fill out his four year term as auditor.

“If the party unites behind me, I will fill out my term and help other candidates in 2012,” he said at the time. ”I will be an incumbent Republican in an election cycle that I’m not a part of, and then I can help my party.”

Schweich will be in attendance at the Missouri Republican Party’s annual statewide Lincoln Days this weekend, where he is planning a reception with attendees Friday evening.

For his part, Schweich has recently said, “no comment,” in response to questions about his political future.

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