To climb the political ladder to serve in government, most of the successful candidates have had a mountain of ambition, especially to seek the White House.It is generally known that Missouri’s governor, Eric Greitens, a Republican, has his eyes on the White House. He will use his governorship to launch his bid for president. He may have a stop along the way at another high office. He has made contacts with high-ranking Republicans, both in and out of office.Gov. Greitens is as ambitious as others who have risen to high political office. He has the energy to drive his ambitions.Another young man who is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party is Jason Kander, former Missouri secretary of state. Kander lost in a race for the U.S. Senate to incumbent Roy Blunt last year. Kander, like Greitens, is a military veteran. Since he lost to Blunt, and is out of office, Kander has been traveling a Democratic circuit, helping candidates and meeting top party members in a number of states. His current endeavor is Let America Vote, an organization in which he serves as president. He’s an advocate for voters’ rights.The beltway-based Politico recently called Kander “the hottest star in Democratic politics.” He was an average secretary of state, which is to say he ran the office well, but didn’t do anything noteworthy. Kander is an opponent of voter ID, which he fears will result in fewer Democratic votes.According to the McClatchy Washington Bureau, Jack Cardetti, a Jefferson City political consultant, said Kander “has a seat at the table when it comes to the future of the Democratic Party.” That may be a true statement. The Democratic Party does not have many “rising stars” right now. Kander has come along at the right time to be one.Kander has said he won’t challenge incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in the Democratic primary election next year. He has been mentioned as a candidate to oppose Gov. Greitens if he runs for re-election in 2020.Who knows what race for which office it will be, but Kander may face off against Greitens in the future. With the political ambitions each has, it would be a battle. Both have shown an ability to raise campaign funds.With the coziness they are gaining with national party leaders, each has his mind on high national offices.Some of the great thinkers of the world point out that to have great ambition is to seek power. It was said of Abraham Lincoln, his ambition was a little engine that knew no rest. It can be said of Greitens and Kander that they have ambition engines that are in high gear!