WASHINGTON _ Roy Blunt is one of several Republican senators looking to distance themselves from Donald Trump, while arguing that a Republican Senate can counteract either a Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency.
"I think I could be the 51st Republican in the Senate," Blunt said in an interview with the Associated Press. "And every voter that cares about the courts, that cares about what would happen if either Secretary Clinton or Donald Trump is president _ there are lots of reasons to think about why you would want a Republican Senate in all of those circumstances."
Blunt faces Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a Democrat, in November. Kander is an Iraq War veteran and was elected as secretary of state in 2012.
Blunt is one of 24 Republican senators defending their seats this year, compared to 10 Democrats. Several of those 24 Republicans are running in states that Democratic President Barack Obama won in 2008 or 2012.
Missouri has not backed a Democratic candidate for president since 1996, but Missouri's other senator, Claire McCaskill, is a Democrat. Although Missouri has swung Republican in recent years, some Democrats say Trump's candidacy and controversial statements, along with Kander's fundraising ability, could put the state in play.
The state is rated Republican Favored by Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call.
