Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon was first out of the box today, with the Democratic candidate for governor firing off by noon a summary sheet of his campaign-finance report that shows him with  $2,703,066.92 in the bank.  (This is a slight revision from his initial summary sheet sent to the press, which had his on-hand tally listed as $2,700,233.45).  

This report is his best so far, showing Nixon raising $1,483,649.72 from Jan. 1 through March 31.

Overall, he’s raised $6,431,124.70 and spent $2,606,624.45, with the difference going for his refunds of overlimit donations collected in early 2007. 

Activists in both parties are madly hitting their “refresh” computer key, as they await for the two Republican contenders — U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and state Treasurer Sarah Steelman — to follow suit.

(She has announced some numbers, but we here at Political Fix live by the “verify, verify” rule, and publish only from the official reports or summary pages.)

UPDATE: Hulshof’s numbers show that he’s raised $906,683.35, spent $174, 308.53, with $732,224.82 in the bank.

All of that tally came since Gov. Matt Blunt made his stunning announcement in late January that he was not seeking another term.

Hulshof also has given $200,000 from his congressional account to the state GOP, which in turn is expected to use at least some of that money to help him.