JEFFERSON CITY - Governor Matt Blunt is in a much stronger financial position than previous Governors Carnahan and Holden at the same point in time.

Blunt?s committee will report on Friday that the Governor?s campaign has cash on hand that is well over twice the amount posted by Gov. Carnahan at this point in 1993, and more than 15 times the balance for Governor Holden?s committee at a similar point.

This week, Blunt?s reelection committee filed its second quarter finance report stating the funds that were raised in April-June 2005. The governor?s friends and supporters raised an astounding $847,436.45, reporting $750,476.83 cash-on-hand. The Carnahan cash-on-hand balance for the same period in 1993 was $311,438.05; the comparable Holden balance was $48,818.85.

?Our Governor is keeping his commitment to Missourians by increasing funds for public education, protecting jobs, balancing a budget that had been wrecked by over-spending over many years, and increasing the availability of health care,? said Bekah Cooper, spokesperson for Governor Blunt?s political committee.

?Obviously, lots of people like what they see from this Governor, and share his conviction that Missouri must stay on course with policies that help our families meet their needs in a setting of economic growth and opportunity,? Cooper said.