Politics

Democratic US Senator Claire McCaskill is throwing her support behind the November ballot initiative that would raise the cigarette tax in Missouri. If approved, the initiative would increase the current cigarette tax from the lowest in the nation at 17 cents, to 90 cents.

Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill has been on the attack against her Republican opponent, criticizing Congressman Akin for controversial comments he’s made. But the comments she's attacking are not related to abortion.

So far, McCaskill has avoided attacking Congressman Akin for his comments on “legitimate rape,” which would force her to discuss her stance on the touchy issue of abortion.  Instead, she’s attacking him for his comments on student loans.

Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill  doubled her efforts to portray herself as a political centrist.  She released a new ad Friday titled "Fifty," referring to the National Journal's ranking of senators from most liberal to conservative. McCaskill was ranked in the middle at 50.  

But she also doesn't deny she has stood by the President -- a president who will have a tough time winning the state of Missouri.

Republican US Senate candidate Todd Akin dismissed claims that his campaign hasn’t paid for TV ads that were set to be run.  KOMU-TV in Columbia reported Thursday that the station only received half the payment for a full week of Akin’s ads.