Hat tip to the St. Louis Beacon and johncombest.com

Republican Brad Lager's insurgent bid against incumbent Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder received a huge boost Monday.

Lager received two mammoth donations: one from Rex Sinquefield for $385,000, the other from Joplin businessman (and former Kinder backer) David Humphreys for $250,000.

The cash infusion comes just days after Lager launched his first campaign ad that hits Kinder for the hundreds of hotel stays across Missouri that Kinder billed to his state office.

Sinquefield also has been a big Kinder backer.

The financial backing for Lager is crucial as he's trying to upend a better-known incumbent in a down-ballot race. In stump speeches, Lager emphasizes that the "status quo has got to go" if Missouri is to make major changes in its business climate.