November US Senate match up: Blunt vs. Carnahan

Posted to Live Blog: 2010 Missouri primaries by Wes Duplantier at 10:47 p.m., Aug. 3, 2010

With both candidates leading by wide margins in their respective primaries, the Associated Press has declared U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt the winner of the Republican Senate primary and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan the winner of the Democratic contest.

Blunt, who represents southwest Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives, was widely considered the favorite in a crowded field of seven Republican candidates. He had seen slightly increased competition in recent from Missouri state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, who gained support from Tea Party voters for filibustering business tax breaks in the legislature's special session last month. But Blunt had advantages in both campaign funding and name recognition, even in southern Missouri, where Purgason is from.

Blunt has really already turned his focus to the November contest with Carnahan, labeling her throughout the primary campaign as a 'rubber stamp' supporter of President Barack Obama's proposals and as someone who is scared to debate him. Carnahan has since challenged Blunt and other November candidates to three debates, but the Blunt campaign has said that isn't enough.

Carnahan has also been focused on the general election. She was expected to win even more surely than Blunt, having only two Democratic challengers. Her press releases during the primary have tried to link Blunt to $700 billion federal bank bailout, saying he was one of the most influential Republican supporters of the measure. Dubbing her opponent "bailout Blunt," Carnahan has said she would vote against such bills as well as all legislative earmarks.

The November contest between the two is expected to generate national attention. The two are competing to replace Republican Sen. Kit Bond, who has represented Missouri in the upper chamber for 26 years. The race is expected to be a close one, as the lead in polls on the race has shifted from Carnahan leading to Blunt now leading 49-43% in the most recent Rasmussen poll taken last week.