Missouri Senate candidates square off in first debate
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley has pushed hard at a debate to paint Claire McCaskill as "another Washington liberal," a phrase he repeated over and over, while the incumbent Democrat touted herself as a moderate compromiser.
The Missouri Press Association on Friday hosted a candidate forum in suburban St. Louis that featured the two major party candidates as well as two others.
The race is among the nation's most closely-watched campaigns, with control of the Senate potentially at stake. Polls indicate it's a toss-up.
Hawley, the state's attorney general, has the support of President Donald Trump. At least seven times during the debate he referred to McCaskill as "another Washington liberal.