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Missouri Senate no slam dunk as GOP spends to save Blunt

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2015 file photo, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. In an election with control of the Senate at stake, Republicans were counting on a win in GOP-friendly Missouri. Instead they’re suddenly plunging millions into the state to save incumbent Blunt from a young challenger Jason Kander.  (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2015 file photo, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. In an election with control of the Senate at stake, Republicans were counting on a win in GOP-friendly Missouri. Instead they’re suddenly plunging millions into the state to save incumbent Blunt from a young challenger Jason Kander. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File) FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2015 file photo, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. In an election with control of the Senate at stake, Republicans were counting on a win in GOP-friendly Missouri. Instead they’re suddenly plunging millions into the state to save incumbent Blunt from a young challenger Jason Kander. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File)

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Senate Republicans were counting on a win in GOP-friendly Missouri.

Instead they’re suddenly plunging millions into the state to save incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt from a young challenger who assembled an AR-15 rifle blindfolded in a daring new ad.

Polls show the race is close, but Democrats argue the momentum is with Missouri’s 35-year-old secretary of state, Jason Kander, a former Army intelligence officer in Afghanistan.

Democrats’ Senate campaign committee has sought to seize the moment, announcing $3.5 million in new advertising last week.

This week, national Republicans were forced to answer back with more than $500,000 in broadcast spending so far in St. Louis and Springfield.