Again in February, Eric Greitens stood earlier than a scrum of reporters in Jefferson Metropolis after submitting for the U.S. Senate. Roughly 4 years faraway from resigning as governor, Greitens was banking on Missouri Republicans to revive his dormant political profession.

“We’d like fighters who’re prepared to do what it takes to take our nation again, to take our nation again from the left,” Greitens mentioned. “And in addition we’d like fighters who’re prepared to tackle the institution — tackle the mainstream media.”

However shortly after he grew to become considered one of 21 Republicans making an attempt to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, one thing occurred that appears to be synonymous with Eric Greitens: scandal.

Greitens’ ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, filed authorized documentation the place she, underneath oath, accused the previous chief govt of emotional and bodily abuse. Sheena Greitens’ allegations prompted acquainted requires Greitens to exit the race from prime Republican leaders, calls for that he ignored.

Even with the most recent torrent of controversy round him, few Republican or Democratic observers are assured that Greitens is destined to lose the Aug. 2 main. And the priority amongst Republicans isn’t nearly his viability within the normal election, however the chance that he could win this fall and acquire a serious platform to advertise himself and his views.

“Eric Greitens didn’t make many associates the final time he was within the political eye,” mentioned Republican state Sen. Invoice Eigel of St. Charles County. “That really attracts lots of people, proper? The much less associates you make in Jefferson Metropolis, a whole lot of of us like that.

“However I feel there’s a level at which, particularly in 2018, that he was such a divisive determine in Jefferson Metropolis that, gosh, right here we’re once more going via this identical dialog,” he added.

It comes again full circle

When Kay Hoflander learn the accusations that Eric Greitens was emotionally and abusive to his ex-wife and considered one of his sons, the previous Missouri Republican Get together chairwoman mentioned she “slept very fitfully.”

After some restlessness, Hoflander, a Lafayette County resident and former Missouri Republican Get together chairwoman, composed a tweet that included a name for Greitens to get out of the U.S. Senate race. As soon as she pressed “ship,” Hoflander mentioned that she felt a lot better.

“Sometime, his youngsters will see the messy, darkish story about their household,” Hoflander mentioned. “And they should know that there have been individuals who stood up for his or her mother.”

Even after a lot of different outstanding girls within the Missouri Republican Get together spoke out in opposition to him staying within the main, Greitens remained within the contest — and in flip accused Sheena Greitens of being in cahoots with outstanding GOP officers to discredit his Senate bid (a cost her legal professional lately known as “conspiracy concept.”) He and his supporters have amplified this message on some pleasant media shops, together with that of former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon. (Greitens’ marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for the previous governor to be interviewed for this story.)

In response, Sheena Greitens mentioned she has documentation to again up her claims — that are taking part in out in entrance of a Boone County decide involving a request to maneuver divorce-related proceedings to Texas. And the pushback from Greitens’ marketing campaign, which included a statement from the campaign calling Sheena Greitens deranged and mentally sick, was jarring to Eigel and others.

“I imply this concept that her character is being attacked on this method? I simply … I can’t consider it,” Eigel mentioned. “I can’t consider it.”

Added Hoflander: “If he’s telling the reality, then swear it in entrance of a decide. And even when he was governor, he didn’t go underneath oath when one other feminine accuser did.”

Hoflander is referring to “KS”, a lady who accused Greitens, underneath oath, of sexual and bodily abuse — which Greitens has denied. These allegations, together with a separate controversy round his use of a nonprofit’s fundraising checklist for political functions, set in movement a sequence of occasions that result in his 2018 resignation.

Many nationwide observers have assumed that the bid amongst some Republicans to cease Greitens from profitable the Missouri main is just about his normal election viability. It’s primarily based on the presumption {that a} well-funded and well-organized Democratic candidate, comparable to Lucas Kunce or Trudy Busch Valentine, may put what is taken into account to be a protected Republican seat into the Democratic column. That may harm the GOP effort to win a majority within the U.S. Senate.

However in lots of respects, that assumption doesn’t inform the entire story.

Greitens made scores of enemies throughout his governorship amongst sitting lawmakers, celebration activists and political operatives. He had a publicly acrimonious relationship with the GOP-run legislature, going to this point to name some members of his personal celebration “third graders.” He additionally developed a bitter rivalry with U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley — who in 2018 forwarded proof of felony pc tampering to the St. Louis circuit legal professional’s workplace.

Hawley, who’s backing U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler’s Senate candidacy, tweeted last month that “when you hit a lady or a toddler, you belong in handcuffs, not america Senate.”

Hoflander mentioned, “I feel he has burned a whole lot of bridges.”

Former Missouri Democratic Get together Chairman Stephen Webber famous that a number of the animosity stems from Greitens’ determination to import political consultants from out of state. In 2016, Austin Chambers, who labored intently with outstanding marketing consultant Nick Ayers, managed Greitens’ marketing campaign. (Chambers, like different former Greitens marketing campaign officers from six years in the past, is not working for him.)

“He’s by no means been an outsider. … He’s at all times been extremely, extremely related,” mentioned Webber, who was close with Greitens after they had been each Democrats dwelling in Columbia. “However he’s been related to folks outdoors of Missouri.”

John Lamping is a former GOP state senator who supported Greitens’ gubernatorial bid however is impartial on this yr’s U.S. Senate race. He mentioned Greitens’ estrangement from Missouri’s GOP political class is an enormous driver in making an attempt to get him out of the race.

He additionally mentioned that a number of the issues Greitens is espousing, together with deposing Mitch McConnell as GOP Senate chief, are in style with Republican voters interested in a populist and nationalist message.

“They have a look at the 2 events as sort of a uni-party — it’s a cartel,” Lamping mentioned. “The political class hates him for a similar cause the political class hated Trump earlier than 2016 — and hate him much more as soon as he bought into workplace. As a result of what they know to be true, and this was confirmed true in Greitens’ case when he was governor, is he received’t hearken to the political class. He doesn’t care what all of the political consultants say.”

Whereas Lamping mentioned that his ex-wife’s allegations have undoubtedly damage his probabilities at profitable, he additionally famous that Greitens is concentrating on a selected phase of the GOP main voting base. He’s allying himself with outstanding folks in Trump’s orbit, together with Bannon, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump Jr.

“They’ll say he’ll lose within the normal election — they’re simply making an attempt to enchantment to folks’s feelings,” Lamping mentioned. “The explanation they don’t like him is that they don’t care what they assume.”

Webber says Greitens is the one Republican who may lose in November. However he doesn’t consider that Democrats ought to cross over and vote for him — including that GOP voters who don’t like Greitens could assist him in a normal election to stop the U.S. Senate from staying in Democratic arms.

“I’m not prepared to play video games with that,” Webber mentioned. “I feel he must be stopped as quickly as doable for the protection of particular person people and the protection of our political system. And for Missouri politics. We can not give him a bigger platform.”

A crowded discipline

Of the aforementioned 21 Republican Senate contenders, solely 5 candidates moreover Greitens are thought of viable. And a few of them have been outpacing Greitens in fundraising in latest months, together with Hartzler and Legal professional Common Eric Schmitt. Greitens and Schmitt even have political motion committees which have raised thousands and thousands of {dollars} that may be spent on tv advertisements, whereas Hawley helped Hartzler arrange a joint fundraising account that may help the Harrisonville Republican’s endeavors.

Each Hartzler and Schmitt had been mingling with the group final week at a packed gymnasium in Wellington, Missouri, making an attempt to get backing from energized Republicans in Lafayette County. Each had been making the case that they might be the very best GOP contender to maneuver on to the final election.

Hartzler mentioned she has a prolonged report of accomplishment in Congress — and socially conservative bonafides. She has backing from agricultural teams and outstanding Missouri Republican leaders like Hawley and former U.S. Sen. Equipment Bond.

“Once I share with Lincoln Day crowds like tonight, fairly than specializing in the issues — I concentrate on the plan,” Hartzler mentioned. “The plan to show our nation round. The plan to revive America’s greatness. And it’s actually resonating with folks.”

Schmitt mentioned his two statewide wins for state treasurer and legal professional normal, in addition to his litigation in opposition to President Joe Biden’s administration, assist him stand out within the crowded discipline.

“I feel it’s a report of accomplishment and motion versus a whole lot of speak,” Schmitt mentioned.

Additionally working the group and handing out marketing campaign bumper stickers was Congressman Billy Lengthy. He mentioned his path to victory will stem from both voters not getting enthused in regards to the different candidates — or Trump giving him his endorsement. Whereas the previous president has not decided on the race, he lately put out a press release praising Lengthy.

Lengthy mentioned if Greitens, Hartzler and Schmitt “bludgeon themselves right into a bloody pulp,” it’s not out of the query that voters could ponder if “there’s a fats auctioneer in Springfield we are able to vote for.”

“And I feel that’s my second choice to win,” mentioned Lengthy, after Trump’s potential backing.

For attendees of Lafayette County Lincoln Days, one factor was clear: They need the race to be about points that matter to GOP voters, not about Greitens’ private scandals.

“I don’t need the drama, I need the very best candidate,” mentioned Odessa resident Eric Kolkmeyer.

Lafayette County Public Administrator Linda Niendick mentioned the one that prevails on Aug. 2 not solely must have run the very best marketing campaign — however made the hassle to personally attain out to GOP voters like those attending final week’s Lincoln Days occasion.

“That’s how I make my judgments,” Niendick mentioned. “I’ve bought to get shut to those candidates. I’ve bought to see them. That’s how I get a really feel for who they’re and what they symbolize. If you’re speaking to them face-to-face on a private degree, what an important benefit. What an important alternative that’s.

“If I get to know these candidates, I can speak to folks that I do know who haven’t had an opportunity to fulfill the candidates — and that’s how the nice message is unfold,” she added.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg offered info for this story.

Comply with Jason on Twitter: @jrosenbaum