Two prominent Republicans today endorsed the bid of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt for the U.S. Senate.

The Associated Press reported that former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced their support for the Congressman’s campaign.

Blunt is trying to replace U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, a Republican who is retiring when his term ends in early 2011. On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is seeking the seat.

The endorsements were anticipated. Reporter Jake Wagman said in an earlier post on Political Fix that Talent was to join the Blunt bandwagon and Kinder as well would be at the former senator’s announcement in Frontenac.

Talent’s and Kinder’s backing shows that Blunt thus far has been successful in clearing the way to the party nomination in August 2010 without significant opposition.

Recently, former State Department official and Washington University professor Tom Schweich announced a decision not to run for the Senate seat. Schweich’s mentor, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, also is behind Blunt.

Wagman also has reported that former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, another potential Republican contender for the Senate, is considering running for Blunt’s current U.S. House seat.