During Wednesday’s massive conference call with Republican officials, activists and gubernatorial hopefuls, U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond proposed a poll to thin out the field of potential replacements for Gov. Matt Blunt on the November ballot.

Bond, acting in his role as chief GOP negotiator, suggested that a poll be conducted that would pit each of the GOP hopefuls against the likely Democratic nominee, Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Under that plan, the Republican candidate who fares best against Nixon would be encouraged to run, while the other hopefuls would agree to bow out and, thus, avoid an expensive and combative Republican primary in August.

That suggestion (reportedly used months ago in the initial multi-candidate Republican battle for attorney general, and resulting in an unopposed Michael Gibbons) went over well with some hopefuls, and not with others.

Among those allegedly not too thrilled with the poll idea: state Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

When asked to expand on the poll suggestion, a Bond aide declined to confirm whether the senator had proposed it, but did say that it was “among many other ideas we’re discussed.”

“ This was a confidential discussion among party leaders,” the aide said. “We will get into no more specifics than that. Confidentiality is necessary to ensure a free and open discussion.”