He is the grandson of a Missouri Congressman.  His father served as Missouri State Treasurer, Governor, and was elected to the US Senate.  His mother served as a US Senator.  His sister is the current Missouri Secretary of State and the Democratic nominee for the US Senate.  His family's political history is unmatched in the state. 

And he, Russ Carnahan, ran for and won the US Congressional seat previously held by Dick Gephardt - a seat that is the strongest of Democratic strongholds. 

But Russ is in trouble.  

        Interested in seeing his leadership skills?  Watch this video of him being asked about his position on the Mosque at Ground Zero.

    In the last few days, his campaign headquarters was firebombed!  Yes, that's right.  Firebombed in St. Louis!  A St.. Louis newspaper speculated that it was the work of the Tea Party movement.  And Congressman Carnahan expressed his desire that, when found, the bomber should be fully prosecuted.

    Well, the bomber has been identified.   It is..........(drum roll please)..........a former Carnahan campaign staffer!!  The staffer had been with Carnahan for quite awhile.   As for motive, it ranges from the staffer trying to besmirch the Tea Party movement, to the staffer being upset with Carnahan for having stiffed him on salary that is due him (the bomber).  (No word on whether Carnahan still favors prosecution)  Maybe the bombed office would be an excellent site to build a "study center" for all the leftist ideas that the bomber espouses?  Although, (via the video) Carnahan has trouble with those types of choices.  But I digress......

Neither explanation of the firebombing (besmirching the Tea Party Movement or shorting the pay for a staffer) looks too appetizing to a politician with a golden family history and a (previously) safe Democratic seat.