MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- A state senator from Saline County ventured into the Ozarks on Wednesday to kick off his campaign for Congress against 17-term incumbent Ike Skelton. Sen. Bill Stouffer is a fourth-generation farmer who's betting he can turn an anti-incumbent mood into a Republican upset in 2010.

At his kickoff, Stouffer made clear to whom he'll be trying to tie Skelton. He mentioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more often than he did Skelton.

His point is that Skelton has increasingly toed the Democratic Party line in recent years.   He also hopes to capitalize on Skelton's vote in support of cap-and-trade legislation that critics believe would drive up energy costs for hard-hit farmers.

"I know Ike Skelton and I respect Ike tremendously for his last 30 years.  However, I can no longer sit idly by while the new Ike votes with Nancy Pelosi 95 percent of the time," Stouffer said at the Marshfield Christian School.

Of course, before Stouffer can get to Skelton, he has to deal with at least two Republican primary opponents.  One is former State Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who's already been campaigning in Webster and Laclede counties.

Since Stouffer represents the biggest Democratic counties in the 4th District, he believes he's the only Republican who can cut into Skelton's advantage.

"These are good conservative folks. I've represented them for the past five years. They will vote for me. They're not going to vote for another Republican," said Stouffer.

Longtime Webster County Republican observer Hoover Case said it's too early to settle on Hartzler or Stouffer, but acknowledged whoever emerges will have an uphill battle.

"He's touched a lot of families and a lot of hearts throughout the district," Case said of Skelton.

"When you take on an incumbent of that many years, that's going to be a challenge," he added.

While Stouffer criticized Skelton for voting for a massive energy tax, the Missouri Democratic Party called Stouffer a hypocrite, because he supported a transportation tax in the state legislature to rebuild interstate highways.

To watch more of Stouffer's speech and a Q & A with attendees, head to the KY3 Political Notebook.

Follow Dave Catanese onTWITTER HERE.

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From The Associated Press, 9/24/09:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State Sen. Bill Stouffer says his support of a $7 billion tax increase for Missouri roads shows he won't back away from tough decisions if elected to Congress. The Republican from Napton kicked off his campaign to challenge 17-term Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton by criticizing "big-governmentspending" in Washington.

The Missouri Democratic Party says Stouffer's words are undercut by his proposal to increase the state sales tax to rebuild Missouri's main interstate highways. Stouffer on Thursday defended his 2007 tax proposal as "a discussion starter" and said funding infrastructure is one of government's main purposes.

Other Republicans in the race are former state Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Harrisonville; James Scholz, an Army veteran who owns a computer security business in Warrensburg; and former Jefferson City councilman Roy Viessman.