By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Revelations that Sen. Kit Bond’s office urged the White House to replace former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves in the Western District Missouri came as little surprise to those familiar with the long-standing political feud between rival Republican camps in the state.

Graves’ brother – Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. – has clashed with Bond for years over how to wield Republican clout in the state, though their differences are more over style than substance and they rarely acknowledge any disputes in public.

“Kit Bond is very conservative but he’s not an ideologue and not one of the far right,” said Max Skidmore, professor of political science at University of Missouri-Kansas City. “Essentially, he’s moderate in most of his approaches. You can’t say that about the Graves faction. Certainly, Sam Graves is a hard core, true believer.”

There was already friction between the lawmakers early in 2005 when Bond’s counsel, Jack Bartling, told Bush administration officials they should be concerned about links between Todd Graves and an investigation into the awarding of Missouri license office contracts. Read more…

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