Maureen Groppe and Deirdre Shesgreen

USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON — Missouri Democrats are about to get an infusion of about $500,000 from Hillary Clinton.

While conceding Clinton is unlikely to win in Missouri, her campaign manager, Robby Mook, said Monday the Democratic presidential nominee wants to help Democrats win the competitive Senate and gubernatorial races in the Show-Me State.

“We are turning our attention to the states of Indiana and Missouri,” said Mook. “While Secretary Clinton faces an uphill battle in both states, Democrats are gaining steam in critical races for Senate and governor in both of those states, as well as local and state legislative races.”

Polls show Democratic Senate candidate Jason Kander in a virtual tie with incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. In the governor’s race, Democrat Chris Koster has a 5 percentage-point lead over GOP nominee Eric Greitens.

Mook said the Hillary Victory Fund, Clinton’s coordinated campaign account, would make a $1 million investment — with the money evenly divided between Missouri and Indiana — to turn Democrats out to vote. The new cash will be spent on mailings and radio and digital ads to turn out voters for those and other races.

“Donald Trump is becoming more unhinged by the day and that is increasing prospects for Democrats further down the ballot because of higher-than-expected turnout and enthusiasm,” Mook said in a call with reporters.

Roy Temple, the Missouri Democratic Party chief, said simply: "Thank you. Please send more."

Republicans seized on Clinton's investment in Missouri as an opportunity to tie Kander and Koster to the unpopular Democratic presidential nominee.

"Clinton wants them to serve as ambassadors for her liberal agenda here in Missouri, and if they are elected, these Democrats will always be beholden to Hillary Clinton," said Jonathon Prouty, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

Mook said the campaign is contributing more than $6 million for get-out-the-vote efforts in seven other states that are critical for the presidential contest in addition to having significant races elsewhere on the ballot.

In Missouri, Trump has an 8 percentage-point lead over Clinton, according to an average of recent polls by RealClearPolitics.com.

Contributed: Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY