JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Although Missouri businessman and former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens has yet to formally announced his candidacy for Governor, he appears to be doing everything but formally leap into the race as he prepares to embark on a three-month tour across Missouri Tuesday to hear concerns from the state’s citizens. Greitens, a prospective Republican nominee, announced the tour Monday.
The Purple Heart winner and published authort announced the the “Listen and Lead Tour,” via a very campaign-esque YouTube video. Greitens will begin the event in Waynesville and south central Missouri before moving to the western part of the state Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, he will hit Southwestern and Central Missouri and the St. Louis suburbs with more dates and locations announced in the coming months.
The campaign so far focused on Greitens’ lack of experience as an elected official. He’s worked hard to label himself an outsider, citing his distaste for the current political process in Missouri.
“Career politicians are failing Missouri because they don’t listen, they don’t lead, and they don’t get results,” Greitens said in a statement. “All they do is talk.”
The conservative candidate is expected to enter a field loaded with politicians with swaths of experience in Jefferson City, including Former Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Former State Rep. Randy Asbury and State Sen. Mike Parson.
Greitens could complicate an already crowded race. With no voting record to attack and no time in office to lean on, Greitens will likely run on his credentials as a former SEAL, business founder, author and leadership trainer. Members of his campaign team have already announced that Greitens has more than $1 million sitting in his war chest after a whopping $800K fundraising quarter.
So far, the only Democrat to officially throw their hat into the ring is Attorney General Chris Koster.
