Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft — former state attorney general, former governor and former senator — has been named to be the keynote speaker at this year’s Missouri GOP Lincoln Days festivities, slated for Feb. 8-10.

    Ashcroft is to give the keynote address at the Saturday night banquet.

     “We are delighted that John Ashcroft has agreed to come home to Springfield to address his fellow Republicans from across the state in what is already shaping up to be a historic year for our party,” said Missouri Association of Republicans President Jeffrey Layman in a statement.

“Springfield and southwest Missouri have been vitally important to Republican victories statewide in the past and this year will be no exception,” said Layman.

    “This is an exciting opportunity to hear from outstanding Republican leaders including Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and U.S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof about their plans to build on the success Republican leadership in the State Capitol has brought to Missouri.”