The Hill News

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) says she would be happy to have President Obama back to the state to headline a campaign rally for her Senate campaign and painted her Republican opponent as the Washington insider.

Carnahan is running against Rep. Roy Blunt (R) this fall for the seat left open by retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.). 

"The president's always welcome to come here," Carnahan said Saturday, according to Springfield's News-Leader. "I don't know what his plans are."

Last month, Obama hosted two fundraisers for Carnahan in Kansas City, events that Blunt's campaign quickly pounced on and turned into an attack ad.

Republicans are banking on the president's unpopularity in Missouri costing Carnahan in November. But Carnahan says it's her Republican opponent who s! hould worry about his ties to Washington.

From the News-Leader:

During a stop at the Greene County Democratic Party headquarters, Carnahan said Republicans are wrong if they think equating the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Christopher Bond with the president's popularity will work.

The race with Blunt, who has represented the Seventh District in Congress for 14 years, actually revolves around who will best represent Missourians, the Missouri secretary of state said.

She described Blunt as beholden to special interests and out of touch with the needs of Missourians.

"I'm not trying to be hard on him," Carnahan said of Blunt. "You know before he went to Washington, he was a prett! y decent guy." 

Still, the recently enacted healthcare ! law and other Obama administration priorities are deeply unpopular in the state.

Last week, a ballot measure rejecting the provision in the healthcare law requiring individuals without insurance to purchase coverage, passed overwhelmingly. A full 71 percent voted in favor of Proposition C, which some pundits called a warning sign for Carnahan. 

The latest Rasmussen numbers on the race have Blunt leading 49 percent to 43 percent.