I missed this earlier, but the Ethics Commission recently had an interesting ruling regarding credit cards.

Gov. Matt Blunt’s campaign had sought a clarification on whether candidates are required to disclose their itemized credit card bills — and not just the lump sum paid to the credit card company.

For instance, while Jay Nixon’s campaign listed only the checks sent to American Express, Blunt’s filings reflect where the card was actually used — which, for the governor, ranges from Cracker Barrel and Starbucks to the Ritz and Bar Italia. (Making  for  great blog fodder.)

Last week, the commission sided with Blunt, saying campaign “committees are advised to list the required details of the actual expenditure made (as opposed to payment to a credit card company).”

The commission quoted a state law that prohibits spending in “such a manner as to conceal the identity” of the true recipient.

Nixon’s campaign said it will comply with the ruling in the future, as well amend previous filings.

This may seem like a picayune matter — who cares if Nixon gets his bagels at Einstein’s or Bread Co.?

But, in an election setting up to be this close, both candidates will be scouring their opponents campaign docs — line by itemized line — for anything that can be used as leverage.