Former U.S. Sen. Kit Bond.

– Early in her career, Catherine Hanaway earned some key support: Former Gov. Kit Bond hired her to work as chief of staff of his U.S. Senate office in St. Louis.

Years later, as the former Missouri Speaker of the House and U.S. Attorney seeks the Republican nomination for governor in 2016, Hanaway has gained his support again.

On Tuesday, Bond will Host a fundraiser for Hanaway in Kansas City. Aside from Bond, the host committee of the fundraiser reads like a who’s who list of the Republican elite in Kansas City, an important show of force for a candidate who calls St. Louis home.

The Bond fundraiser will take place at the home of Ann Dickinson, a former bank executive and a former committeewoman to the Republican National Committee from Missouri.

The fundraiser comes after a quarter where Hanaway raised only $60,000 for her statewide campaign. Since, St. Louis billionaire Rex Sinquefield has gone all in for her campaign, contributing a massive $750,000 check at one time and has subsequently sent three checks for $10,000.

It also comes as State Auditor Tom Schweich, a Republican, is mulling an entrance into the race. Since winning reelection in November, Schweich has quietly sought the support of former U.S. Senators John Danforth and Jim Talent – the moderate Republican establishment – to publicly urge him to enter the race.

Nine months ago when Bond was first asked what he made of a Hanaway candidacy, he hedged.  In February, Bond told PoliticMo it was “too early” for him to weigh in on the race.

At the time, Bond, a lobbyist for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, said Hanaway should be “on it” when it comes to expanding Medicaid with federal dollars. Hanaway, citing the potential increase in cost during the out-years, has said she opposes expansion.