Mo. gov. candidate Spence urges straight GOP vote

ST. PETERS, Mo. (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial challenger Dave Spence is urging supporters of presidential candidate Mitt Romney to keep checking the Republican box as they move down the ballot.

At a campaign event Monday in St. Peters, Spence says he's believes a "groundswell of conservative voters" will turn out for Tuesday's election.

Polls have consistently shown Romney ahead of Democratic President Barack Obama in Missouri, though the race is much tighter nationally.

Spence urged Romney backers to stick with the Republican slate and not split their ticket by picking Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

After his St. Peters' event, Spence was heading Monday to local Republican headquarters in Cape Girardeau, Columbia and Liberty. He was closing the day with a rally at Crowder College in the southwest Missouri town of Cassville.