Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training last week. There is reason for hope.

Ooops, I already wrote that column. I suppose I played the hope card too soon. But it appears to work for Barack Obama. Plus, whoever would have guessed that winter would just drag on and on and on and on and on and on and on?

There is hope on the horizon, at least, for political junkies. Candidates will start lining up next Tuesday from the Buchanan County Courthouse to the secretary of state’s office in Jefferson City to secure a spot on the Aug. 5 primary ballot. Thank heaven for politics.

The big ticket race statewide will be Democrat Jay Nixon’s (now the state’s attorney general) bid to become Missouri’s next governor. This was supposed to be a showdown with Republican incumbent Matt Blunt, who suddenly dropped out of running for the almost incredible reason that he has already accomplished all he wanted in Jefferson City.

That leaves Nixon, a party stalwart with the scars to prove it, facing a candidate yet to be named. The two most frequently mentioned GOP challengers are U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

My crystal ball once predicted that the next great race for governor could come down to state Auditor Susan Montee and state Sen. Charlie Shields, a Democrat and Republican respectively from Buchanan County. It still could — some day. But Blunt’s late and totally unexpected departure from the race would make raising the money for a serious race a long shot for any Republican without deep pockets or statewide recognition. On the Democratic side, the party appears to owe Mr. Nixon a clear shot at the governor’s office as reward for the many times he has carried the party’s water.

Northwest Missouri still could have a presence on the statewide ticket if Ms. Steelman remains in the governor’s race. State Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, reportedly is interested in the treasurer’s job as long as Ms. Steelman is interested in the governor’s job.

The other big Northwest Missouri race comes to a head in November when Democrat Kay Barnes attempts to beat incumbent Republican Sam Graves for the 6th District seat in Congress. This is expected to be a good to very good year for Democrats.

The Graves campaign is expected, as usual, to be well-financed and aggressive (if not ruthless). Barnes, the former Kansas City mayor with St. Joseph roots, appears determined to learn from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill that the way to beat Republicans is to take the rural vote seriously.

All three state representatives for Buchanan County — Democrats Ed Wildberger and Martin Rucker and Republican Rob Schaaf — will be back on the ballot. I’d be surprised to see serious opposition in any of those races.

The big local race will be for the courthouse job left open with the retirement of Western District Commissioner Bud Crockett. As many as a half-dozen Democrats have taken a look at that seat. The party wants to win control of the courthouse back. That starts with holding this seat on the commission.

The early talk is that former Mayor Glenda Kelly could go after Republican Presiding Commissioner R.T. Turner in a couple of years. That leaves Republican Eastern District Commissioner Dan Hausman, who was expected to draw opposition from Deputy Mayor Mike Hirter. Hirter, who would have run as a Democrat, pulled out of contention recently. Hausman is the local candidate most likely to attract serious opposition. Remember, Tom Mann, who suffered a bitter defeat at the hands of R.T. Turner two years ago, is still floating out there.

Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong earned an early spot on the politically endangered list thanks in part to budget deals worked out while Mr. Mann, a generous supporter of law enforcement for a couple of reasons at least, was still the presiding commissioner. Strong has stabilized the department’s financial ship since then and is winning more positive headlines in the last couple of years.

A couple of names keep popping up as informally interested in this race. But beating an incumbent sheriff with a loyal staff is both tough and expensive.

This is, of course, just a shotgun look at some of the more interesting races that will start taking shape Tuesday. There will be surprises. That’s what makes the political season great.

Mark Sheehan’s column runs on

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