One of the races Politics Nation was looking most forward to covering next year just got a lot more boring, but Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, who today announced he would not run for a second term, did provide everyone in Washington a surprise. The Fix has Blunt's statement, in which he cites a desire to spend more time with his family and says the decision was not motivated by political considerations.

Still, Blunt would have had a difficult time overcoming a strong challenge from Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon. Both had raised millions of dollars toward a general election matchup, though Nixon led by a wide margin, according to a November poll, after Blunt's first term was marred by poor performance. Just 40% of Missourians said Blunt's performance was excellent or good, the poll showed.

The announcement came as such a surprise that Blunt apparently hadn't even informed campaign staff of the decision by the time a statement was released. A campaign worker answering the phone at Blunt headquarters was surprised by the news when told by Politics Nation.

With his exit, Blunt ensures that Democrats have an excellent chance at picking up the seat. Nixon has a big head start on whichever Republican emerges from what is certain to be a competitive primary to replace Blunt. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, former Senator Jim Talent and at least a few of Missouri's five Republican members of Congress will likely consider a bid for the seat.

The news isn't all bad for Blunt, either. By bowing out of a race he very likely would have lost, he can save some of his reputation, make some money for a few years and think, once his kids are a little older, of re-entering public service. The state's Democratic Senator, Claire McCaskill, narrowly beat Talent in 2006, meaning she will be vulnerable in a few years, while Senator Kit Bond might be considering retirement when his term is up in 2010. By leaving on his own terms, Blunt leaves the door open for a return, and given his age -- he's just 37 years old -- he has plenty of time to do so.

Blunt's departure means Missouri will see its fifth governor in nine years, since the October 2000 death of then-Governor Mel Carnahan. Carnahan's lieutenant, Roger Wilson, served out the remainer of his term before handing the reins over to Democrat Bob Holden. Holden was seen in such a poor light after his first term that McCaskill beat him in the primary as he sought re-election in 2004, before losing to Blunt in the general.

Still, a governor of Missouri can go on to other things. Bond and John Ashcroft both left the governor's mansion for the Senate, while Carnahan was running against Ashcroft when his plane went down just weeks before the election. Carnahan's wife stood in for her husband after he posthumously defeated Ashcroft. It is safe to assume that Blunt has something else in mind down the road, and this move, while likely handing the chief executive seat to Democrats in 2008, ensures he'll have a shot when his time comes.

-- Reid Wilson, with Kyle Trygstad