Ed Martin, Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general, campaigned in Fulton Tuesday and charged Atty. Gen. Chris Koster, his Democratic opponent, is corrupt.
Walking along downtown Fulton and meeting Republican supporters at county party headquarters, Martin said he wants to become attorney general to help protect Missourians "from burdensome and job-killing red tape created by over-regulation by federal and state governments."
Martin has attracted strong support from two former Republicans who held the office of Missouri attorney general. They are former U.S. senators John Danforth and John Ashcroft.
"Danforth has endorsed me," Martin said, "and is supporting me. Danforth told me that when he ran in for Missouri attorney general in 1968 he ran against the culture of corruption. Danforth told me that he now sees the same culture of corruption in Attorney General Chris Koster's office of attorney general in Missouri. Danforth said he believes the office is now used for political gain and that's not how the office of attorney general should operate. That's the basic reason why I am asking Missouri voters to fire Chris Koster as attorney general."
Democrats have held the office of Missouri attorney general since 1993 and incumbents rarely lose a race because of huge campaign contributions to the office by attorneys, Martin said.
"There now is a culture of corruption in Koster's office that has been exposed partly by my campaign and also by an audit this year by the state auditor's office," Martin said.