JEFFERSON CITY — Word is that the two campaign camps for Republicans Allen Icet and Thomas Schweich have been talking in the last week, apparently in an attempt to get one of the two possible candidates for auditor to step out of the way.

At the moment, Icet has the advantage of being the only announced candidate. The state representative from Wildwood stole Schweich’s thunder after the Washington University law professor struck a deal with party leaders to clear the way for a run for auditor as long as Schweich didn’t run against Roy Blunt in the primary for U.S. Senate.

Icet has a Web site for his run up, and he told the Fix on Monday (after a legislative hearing in St. Louis) that he is likely to announce a big list of House endorsements soon.

With key party leaders Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Rep. Roy Blunt, Sen. John C. Danforth, and Sen. Kit Bond, all involved in getting Schweich out of the Senate race and at least giving the indication they would support him if he chose to run for auditor, Icet has put the party in a tough position.

As budget chairman, he led the charge the last couple of years on giving Republicans one of their major talking points, keeping Missouri out of the huge budget problems being faced by other states, such as Illinois and California.

Icet said that he will consider stepping down as budget chairman next year because of the demands of a statewide race. Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, is considering the same decisions. Nodler is running for Congress. Both men said they haven’t given the idea much thought yet and aren’t close to a decision.