State Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca appeared to be in his element this morning, sending out a press release that began with the following:

“In a rude and disrespectful display unbecoming of a statewide official from any political party, an angry and red-faced Jay Nixon abruptly stormed out during last night’s State of the State address 10 minutes into the speech and headed directly home, according to several eyewitness accounts.

            “While Democrat lawmakers and statewide officials showed respect for the Office of the Governor and the decorum of the Missouri House, Nixon shook his head in apparent disgust and whispered comments to fellow Democrat Susan Montee before exiting the House chamber at 7:10 p.m. Nixon then left the Capitol in his political vehicle a few minutes later for home.  Such was Nixon’s rage that he left a side House gallery door open upon exiting that had to be closed by a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol providing security….”

 Nixon spokesman Oren Shur said in reply that the attorney general ”attended the beginning of the speech to show respect for the office,” then left “to meet with Democratic leaders to discuss a response” to Blunt’s proposals outlined in his address.

Shur denied that Nixon — who is seeking to unseat Blunt in November – had been angry and said Nixon had left quietly and discreetly. Shur also denied Sloca’s contention that “within seven minutes (of leaving the chamber), Nixon was in his vehicle on his way out of the Capitol.”

UPDATE:

Sloca added later today,

“An eyewitness has Nixon leaving the Capitol garage at 7:17 p.m., getting into his vehicle and leaving. … There just may be some videotape out there exposing Nixon’s denials, just like his illegal use of state vehicles and subsequent denials were exposed on videotape. Stay tuned.”

The statewide officials known to be attendance during Blunt’s speech included state Auditor Montee, a Democrat,  and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican who introduced Blunt.

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, said she was there as well.

Absent was state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, a Republican.   Steelman was in Camden County addressing the county  Republican Club. A spokeswoman said that Steelman was the group’s keynote speaker, and had agreed to address the group months ago, before Blunt announced the timing of his State of the State address.

No reports of any repeat by anyone (D or R) of state House Speaker Rod Jetton’s shout-out (he was the speaker-in-waiting at the time)  during then-Gov. Bob Holden’s last State of the State in 2004.  

(By the way, Jetton was at last night’s address. He’s indisposed today after undergoing hernia surgery this morning.)