JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri House Minority Leader Jeff Harris has stolen another march on anyone thinking of challenging him for the Democratic nomination for attorney general next year.

Harris, the first state Democrat to officially declare his intention to run, announced in a press release Tuesday that he has launched an official campaign website.

So far no other Democrat has even expressed interest in running for the position to be vacated by incumbent Jay Nixon. Harris, by contrast, first declared an interest in running for attormney general in January and has been building a record since.

Nixon has already announced that he will vacate the attorney general's post to run for Governor of Missouri in 2008. He has already announced that he will depart the AG's post in early 2009 whatever the outcome of that race.

According to a blog posting Thursday by Jason Rosenbaum of the Columbia Tribune, Harris is likely to face at least two other contenders. Rep. Margaret Donnelly of St. Louis County and former House Speaker and current Public Service Commissioner Steve Gaw have both shown interest.

On the Republican side, two prominent legislators have already indicated their intentions to run. Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons of Kirkwood and Sen. Chris Koster of Harrisonville look set to line up for attorney general candidate in 2008.

But most GOP interest has settled on high-profile U.S. Attorney and former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, LNL reported last month. Hanaway has not declared her candidacy but is being strongly promoted by current GOP House Speaker Rod Jetton.

Harris also announced yesterday that he plans to conduct a statewide fly-around announcing his bid for attorney general around Labor Day.