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Obama Stumps For Carnahan In Downtown KC

At his third event in one day in Kansas City, President Obama said he was hot and took off his jacket. He came to support the Democratic candidate for Senate in Missouri, Robin Carnahan (left). Photo by Sylvia Maria Gross / KCUR.
At his third event in one day in Kansas City, President Obama said he was hot and took off his jacket. He came to support the Democratic candidate for Senate in Missouri, Robin Carnahan (left). Photo by Sylvia Maria Gross / KCUR.

Kansas City, MO – President Barack Obama came to Kansas City today to stump for Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan. After visiting a local electric car plant, he attended a thousand-dollar-a-plate fundraiser at the downtown Marriott, and then went next door to the Folly Theater for what was billed as a "grassroots" rally.

President Obama lost the state of Missouri in the 2008 election by just a few thousand votes. Still, Democrats are hoping his support will help Secretary of State Robin Carnahan defeat longtime 7th district Congressman Roy Blunt, formerly the minority whip.

The Carnahan campaign slashed prices for tickets to the Folly fundraiser by half - the cheapest were $17 dollars and the seats were almost full.

President Obama came out swinging against congressional Republicans; he said they were the ones who caused many of the problems he's dealing with today.

"By the way, Robin's opponent - he wasn't just along for the ride. He was one of the guys with his hand on the wheel when it drove into the ditch."

Recent polls show Carnahan trailing Blunt by five points. They're competing for the seat being vacated by Republican Kit Bond.

Sylvia Maria Gross is storytelling editor at KCUR 89.3. Reach her on Twitter @pubradiosly.
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