Blunt backs earmarks, leaving opening for GOP primary challenger

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) should change her anti-earmark, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said, putting him at odds not only with the Democratic lawmaker, but many Republican colleagues as well.

Blunt, in the early stages if his 2010 Senate campaign, defended the procurement of earmarks by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), the man Blunt is hoping to succeed in the Senate.

“I’ve never been nearly as effective at this topic as Sen. Bond, who’s fought hard for our state,” Blunt said in a radio interview with talk radio host McGraw Milhaven Wednesday morning. “But I certainly wouldn’t be the person to say I’m not going to be out there competing for things that are good for Missouri.”

“I would hope that Claire would change her mind on this,” the former House Minority Whip added.

The support for earmarks could leave Blunt vulnerable to a primary challenge from his right. Many have speculated that former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman (R), who also ran for governor in 2008, could challenge Blunt.

McCaskill spoke on the floor of the Senate this afternoon against earmarks, and joined other lawmakers this morning at the White House to meet about cutting government waste.

Listen to audio of the interview here.