No signs of support for Greitens in Missouri county where abuse charges will be heard

A smattering of giggles greeted the name of former Gov. Eric Greitens Friday evening when emcee Brandon Rathert called for the U.S. Senate candidates invited to speak at Boone County Republican Lincoln Days to come forward.

Up to that point, there had been no trace of Greitens or his campaign at the most important pre-primary gathering of party faithful in the county where a court will weigh the explosive charges of domestic abuse from his former wife.

No Greitens yard signs greeted those attending, as they did for other major candidates in the race. No literature adorned the dinner tables. And no one was wearing his campaign paraphernalia to identify themselves as a supporter.

All of the leading candidates were invited to make five-minute speeches, Rathert told the gathering of about 200 of the county’s most ardent party members. U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long were there, as was St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey, but Rathert said he was calling names in alphabetical order.

“Is Eric Greitens here?” Rathert asked again.