ST. LOUIS -- John Boehner, Minority Leader in the U.S. House, will be in town this weekend to help GOP Congressional hopeful Ed Martin raise cash.

But Boehner, the Speaker in waiting if the Republicans take back the House, has already offered up a gift to Martin -- even if it isn't exactly ready to open.

Boehner has, according to Martin, promised the St. Louis Republican to support him for a spot on the House Veteran Affairs Committee.

Talking about counting your chickens before they've hatched -- that's like building a hen house without owning a farm.

Meanwhile, Martin's opponent, incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, has been attempting to bolster his appeal with those who have served in the armed forces, meeting regularly with veteran's group and questioning the Veterans Administration over potential infections caused by improperly cleaned equipment at the VA's Cochran facility in St. Louis.

Boehner will be in Missouri this week to aide Martin as well as Vicky Hartzler, who is challenging veteran Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton.

Boehner is staying at Hunter Farms, the west St. Louis County estate of Republican donor, and former ambassador to Belgium, Stephen Brauer.