The race for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat, which could help determine the balance of the Senate next year, fired up Wednesday.Democrat Jason Kander, Missouri’s current secretary of state, and incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt each took easy victories in Tuesday’s primary, sending them toward a long-expected showdown in November.Kander, a former U.S. Army captain who served in Afghanistan, met with a small group of veterans in Kansas City Wednesday. He said having more veterans in Congress will help with national security issues and matters helping veterans.“It certainly makes a lot of sense to have more people who have the perspective of someone who has served," he said.Blunt, who is not a veteran, spent Wednesday on a bus tour talking to voters about getting more jobs in Missouri.His campaign launched two attack ads Wednesday, including one linking Kander to Hillary Clinton, who trails in Missouri polls. The second claims Kander made mistakes administrating the state’s election laws.Kander has challenged Blunt to do 10 televised debates with him.“Well, there’s one debate scheduled and there are nine media markets in the state,” Kander said. “In my mind, it’s important for Missourians all across the state to get an opportunity to hear from Sen. Blunt and myself about our different approaches.”Blunt’s campaign spokeswoman, Tate O’Connor, issued a statement saying that the campaign will discuss the number and location of debates at a later time. The one planned debate is scheduled in late September before the Missouri Press Association.

The race for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat, which could help determine the balance of the Senate next year, fired up Wednesday.



Democrat Jason Kander, Missouri’s current secretary of state, and incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt each took easy victories in Tuesday’s primary, sending them toward a long-expected showdown in November.




Kander, a former U.S. Army captain who served in Afghanistan, met with a small group of veterans in Kansas City Wednesday. He said having more veterans in Congress will help with national security issues and matters helping veterans.



“It certainly makes a lot of sense to have more people who have the perspective of someone who has served," he said.



Blunt, who is not a veteran, spent Wednesday on a bus tour talking to voters about getting more jobs in Missouri.



His campaign launched two attack ads Wednesday, including one linking Kander to Hillary Clinton, who trails in Missouri polls. The second claims Kander made mistakes administrating the state’s election laws.



Kander has challenged Blunt to do 10 televised debates with him.



“Well, there’s one debate scheduled and there are nine media markets in the state,” Kander said. “In my mind, it’s important for Missourians all across the state to get an opportunity to hear from Sen. Blunt and myself about our different approaches.”



Blunt’s campaign spokeswoman, Tate O’Connor, issued a statement saying that the campaign will discuss the number and location of debates at a later time. The one planned debate is scheduled in late September before the Missouri Press Association.