In eight previous elections for federal office, Roy Blunt has never had a close race. He appears to be facing one now.
Missouri voters on Tuesday will decide if Blunt, a Republican who was elected seven times to the House before easily winning election to the Senate in 2010, can fend off Democratic challenger Jason Kander.
The election is being closely watched nationally since control of the Senate could be at stake. Polls have indicated for months that the race is a virtual toss-up. National senatorial committees for both parties, and a wide array of political action committees and other groups, have combined to spend millions of dollars on the Missouri race.