The Hill News

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who is a top target for Republicans in 2012, voiced her opposition to extending unemployment benefits.

"I'm not for extending the unemployment benefits any further," McCaskill said in an interview with Missouri television station KMOV on Tuesday.

She added that she was for extending payroll tax cuts.

"I'm always for tax cuts for working folks because I think that helps our consuming economy," McCaskill said.

The freshman senator is in one of the most competitive Senate races in the 2012 cycle. Missouri, which is also a presidential battleground state, has been leaning more red and Republicans are looking for a pickup, after holding on to then-Sen. Kit Bond's (R-Mo.) seat in 2010, when he retired. President Obama lost the state by a little more than 3,000 votes in 2008.

McCaskill's comments come as Obama floats temporarily extending the payroll tax holiday and also extending unemployment ! insurance to help put more money in consumers' hands and stimulate demand.

in a situation similar to McCaskill are fellow conservative Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.), who are also GOP targets. Republicans need a net gain of four seats (if Obama wins reelection) to retake control of the Senate.

First McCaskill needs a GOP opponent. Rep. Todd Akin and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman are battling it out for the Republican nomination.