Republican State Treasurer Sarah Steelman officially announced she's gunning for Missouri's top job. Earlier this week Steelman announced she would run for re-election as State Treasurer. That announcement came only a few hours before Governor Blunt announced he would not run for re-election.

As the Republican Party looked for new candidates Steelman changed her mind. Saturday she announced with family and friends that she wants the Republican nomination. She made the announcement from her brother's kitchen counter at his home in Springfield. Steelman said she wants to bring kitchen table politics and power back to the people of Missouri.

"It is the principle that has brought me here today to announce that I'm running. To tell you how I believe we together can put that power back where it belongs with you," Steelman said.

Steelman is now playing catch-up as she transitions her campaign efforts. She's trying to catch up to Democrats like Jay Nixon who's been in the race for a long time at this point.

But, back on the Republican side, with Saturday's announcement, the Republican field is filling up quickly. Steelman is the second candidate to join the Republican race since Governor Blunt's surprise announcement. Also in the Republican race is current Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder. Of course, more may announce their intentions in the days and weeks to come. And Friday former Missouri State Representative Jack Jackson announced his intention to run for Lieutenant Governor. 

Saturday didn't just belong to state politics in mid-Missouri though. National political campaigns were also out in full force. Former President Bill Clinton is set to speak in about a half hour at an Independence High School. In Columbia, Hillary Clinton campaign volunteers made calls to Kansas City inviting voters to the event. The Hillary campaign kicked off phone banks all over the state today including ones in Jefferson City and Columbia. The events are a part of Hillary's statewide "Women's Day of Action." At the Columbia Call Center, women volunteers called women voters in the Kansas City area.

"We're all volunteers here who really believe in Hillary Clinton, not because she is a woman, but this is the person who has the best experience for our country," Clinton Campaign Volunteer Charlotte Lerner said.

Meanwhile, on the streets, supporters of Barack Obama knocked on doors. Today a group of about 25 volunteers visited Columbia neighborhoods asking voters for their support. Volunteers helping with the campaign said they are happy to grab a clipboard and support their candidate.

"I feel like if I want this person to win I need to be out there and work for them. I think if you talk to a lot of the other people out there today they'd say the same thing. I mean they like Obama so much they think he is such a great fit for the Presidency that they're not just willing to hope other people are out there and active for him, they want to get out there and be active," Obama Campaign Volunteer Glenn Rehn said.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both started television ad campaigns in Missouri. John Edwards visited the state last weekend. Missouri is important to candidates from both parties. That's because it's all about Feb. 5, often called Super Tuesday. There are going to be a lot of delegates up for grabs. More than 20 states, including Missouri, will make their opinions heard. And, with the races in both parties as close as they are, every vote and every state counts.