Mo. governor candidates spar over congressional spending

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (AP) -- Republican candidates Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman sparred over his congressional record and spending earmarks at a candidates forum.

Steelman, the state treasurer, says that Hulshof's support for "wasteful earmarks" to spend federal money create questions about his leadership and ability to run the state.

Hulshof, a congressman from Columbia, says he has always been a fiscal conservative and has been careful when he requests federal money for Missouri projects. Hulshof says Steelman is taking his votes out of context.

The two Republican candidates on Friday fielded questions from reporters and editors at a resort on the Lake of the Ozarks.

Likely Democratic governor candidate Jay Nixon is to speak later Friday morning.