Jason Kander is getting support nationally in his tight race against Senator Roy Blunt with the message that, "This campaign is about reminding folks what we know, which is that America is at its best when our middle class is at its strongest."
The latest Monmouth poll has the Army veteran trailing Blunt by just two points, basically a dead heat considering the 4.9 margin for error.
On Friday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren took the stage with Kander in an effort to sway Kansas City voters.
"When we voted on a budget resolution to protect and expand Social Security, Roy Blunt voted no. When we voted to raise the minimum wage, Roy Blunt voted no. And when we voted for equal pay for equal work, Roy Blunt voted no. Well you know what I think? I think that when Roy Blunt asks for your vote, the good people of Missouri should vote no on Roy Blunt," Warren said.
The two spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 at the College Basketball Experience.
Kander immediately attacked his opponent's special interest support saying, "Senator Blunt is going to have those people who are trying to protect an investment in somebody like him who wakes up every morning thinking about what he can do for the special interests that fund his campaign and his lifestyle. He can have them, because I've got you."
We reached out to the Blunt campaign which provided us with this statement:
"Roy Blunt stands with Missourians against another Obama term, which is exactly what the Clinton-Kander agenda offers. If Missourians want change, they will vote for the only person who has been fighting against the wrong track of ObamaCare, job-killing energy taxes, a disastrous foreign policy, and amnesty for illegal immigrants, and that's Roy Blunt."
Warren targeted Blunt to his support of Donald Trump who she said, "Calls African-Americans thugs, Muslims terrorists, Latinos criminals and brags about sexually assaulting women. We believe that racism, sexism and bigotry have no place in this country."
We talked to voters at the rally about Kander.
When asked if he expected this close of a campaign, Blaine Stephens said, "Honestly I don't think anyone did. About a year ago was the first rally and I was excited but realistically I didn't think he'd have a chance, but just the fact that he's been able to get the kind of national support that he has been has just been incredible."
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Dia Wall can be reached at dia.wall@kshb.com.
