Most of us know where the Missouri Democratic Party and the Missouri Republican Party tend to get their money; what many people don't know is where they spend it. You can find information about state party spending by using the Missouri Ethics Commission website: http://www.moethics.state.mo.us. The Missouri Dems' MEC ID# is C000960 and the Missouri Republican Party's MEC ID# is C000953. To listen to this podcast, choose one of three options: the media player to the right; the icon above that reads "pod"; or download the mp3 file directly to your hard drive and open with your preferred media player. Questions and comments can be sent to john@johncombest.com.

Is Maida Coleman a candidate for state auditor? Today's AP and St. Louis Post-Dispatch pieces tell two different stories. Meanwhile, auditor candidates Susan Montee, Jack Jackson, and John Loudon have released their campaign finance reports: What do the reports say? The Republican candidates should begin practicing their answer to a question they're certain to encounter many times on the campaign trail. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Jim Talent and his Democratic opponent, Claire McCaskill, have released their fundraising numbers: What, if anything, do those numbers mean? To listen to this podcast, choose one of three options: the media player to the right; the icon above that reads "pod"; or download the mp3 file directly to your hard drive and open with your preferred media player. For more information on the candidates and groups mentioned this week, visit www.johncombest.com. Questions and comments can be sent to john@johncombest.com.

Missouri plays host to a few nationally-known conservatives next week: Who, when, and where? And how will the recent focus on Claire McCaskill's personal finances affect our GOP candidates throughout the 2006 and 2008 election cycles? To listen to this podcast, choose one of three options: the media player to the right; the icon above that reads "pod"; or download the mp3 file directly to your hard drive and open with your preferred media player. For more information on the candidates and groups mentioned this week, visit www.johncombest.com. Questions and comments can be sent to john@johncombest.com.

The 10 Combest Campaign Commandments. Dedicated to campaign veterans: Since you can't say it, I said it for you. To listen to this podcast, choose one of three options: the media player to the right; the icon above that reads "pod"; or download the mp3 file directly to your hard drive and open with your preferred media player. For more information on the candidates and groups mentioned this week, visit www.johncombest.com. Questions and comments can be sent to john@johncombest.com.