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Gannon supports Greitens but calls anti-legislature language ‘not honorable’

ST. LOUIS — Rep. Elaine Gannon, R-DeSoto, supports Eric Greitens for governor but thinks he needs to stop calling legislators corrupt because it’s dishonorable.

When discussion on Sunday’s This Week in Missouri Politics turned to the race for governor, Gannon said Greitens comments about the legislature has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

“I know a lot of people have resented Eric calling the House and the Senate corrupt, corrupt politicians, getting rid of corrupt politicians,” Gannon said. “It’s not honorable and that is something I think he needs to stop doing.”

Greitens’ rhetoric about the legislature has drawn ire already this election season. Most recently, his campaign incensed Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard when a staffer called a fund used to feed staffers working late nights “corrupt.”

The Democratic party has been trying to paint the Republicans as disorganized, counting every Twitter slight as a strike against party unity, including Friday morning when John Brunner called Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder the only opponent to earn his respect and admiration.

But even though she called his comments not honorable, that doesn’t mean Gannon won’t support the former Navy SEAL. She said she can appreciate both candidates running, but will be supporting the Republican.

“I know Eric personally. He is an outsider,” Gannon said. “I think that he will bring new ideas into the Missouri government and work very well across the aisle with both sides of the party.

While she didn’t mention Democrat Chris Koster by name, she did say he would be a capable governor.

“I also know the Democrat candidate and I think he is capable of the job also, but I’m supporting Eric Greitens,” she said.