Midnight deadline could loom large for Clay v. Carnahan prospects.

Byline: Jake Wagman

June 30--ST. LOUIS -- Today's fundraising deadline could go a long way toward deciding whether two of the city's most prominent Democrats will go head-to-head next year. Like all federal and state candidates, U.S. Reps. Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan have until midnight to collect cash that will appear on their next quarterly report. Clay and Carnahan, for the moment, both represent St. Louis on Capitol Hill.

But Carnahan's district was eliminated in redistricting, leaving the Democratic scion contemplating his next move. While Carnahan has expressed reluctance to challenge Clay in what could be a racially divisive primary, the next round …