MISSOURI (KCTV) -
The top race people were watching was the Republican Senate race in Missouri. Six candidates were competing to have the chance to take on Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.
The Missouri senate race was one of the most expensive in the country as conservatives made an aggressive push for McCaskill's seat. She told KCTV5 Tuesday evening that she is a moderate Democrat who can work both sides of the aisle.
Tuesday night was just a waiting game for the incumbent to see who she'll be facing off with as her general election kickoff campaign begins Wednesday.
"In case you haven't noticed, they're after me," McCaskill said during her victory party in Clay County.
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McCaskill spent her day touring the state in her RV, starting out casting her votes in her hometown in St. Louis County.
The race was expected to be a tough one as tea party conservatives have thrown tens of millions of dollars in television ads blasting each other and their opponent, McCaskill.
But McCaskill said during her phone bank calls Tuesday she reminded voters she's stepped up to the challenge despite a Democratic party in Washington losing popularity.
"It has been very frustrating because Republicans have done an awful lot of blocking and tackling. Look at the tax rates for example. We want to make sure taxes stay low for 98 percent of America. Republicans are blocking that because they're worried about the top 2 percent," McCaskill said.
Many political experts expected Republican businessman John Brunner to be one of McCaskill's toughest opponents because of his sheer buying power but, Todd Akin held the lead and won the GOP Senate nomination.
Also a top contender for the senate seat was Sarah Steelman. She held her watch party in Rolla, MO.
The third top contender for the GOP senate and the ultimate winner is Akin. He held his watch party in St. Charles, MO. Currently, he is the representative for Missouri's second district, which is the northwest portions of the St. Louis area. Akin's been in Washington since 2001 and claims to have a proven conservative record. Akin's biggest endorsement came from presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
Photo Courtesy: KCTV5 Photographer Andy Sherer
Photo Courtesy: KCTV5's Dave Jordan
