Republican governor group gives Spence $950,000

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican Dave Spence has received a $950,000 contribution to help with his Missouri governor race.

Spence's campaign last week reported receiving the money from the state affiliate of the Republican Governors Association. The national organization reported shifting a total of $3 million to its Missouri committee.

Campaigns and political committees must report contributions of more than $5,000 to the Missouri Ethics Commission within 48 hours.

Last month, Spence's campaign also received $1.1 million from the Missouri committee of the governors' organization. Spence, a St. Louis businessman, is challenging Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

Nixon got help earlier in the campaign from the Democratic Governors Association. The organization gave its Missouri affiliate $2.5 million, of which $1 million was passed along to Nixon's campaign.