Sen. Blunt declines to endorse in Mo. Senate race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt has declined to choose a favorite among the Missouri Republicans seeking to join him in Congress.

Blunt told reporters the three best-known Republican Senate candidates each have helped him in the past and that he would assist whoever wins the August primary. U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, St. Louis businessman John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman are campaigning to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Blunt was at the state Capitol on Thursday to meet with state lawmakers and spoke to the full Missouri House. Blunt says there should be particular focus on boosting private sector jobs. He says recent challenges in Europe demonstrate the danger of allowing government to grow larger than the economy can support.