Missouri governor campaigns stop in Kansas City for final push for votes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the last hours of his reelection campaign, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon gathered with fellow democratic leaders in south Kansas City for a final push for votes.

The outdoor stage at 78th Street and Wornall Road is the same stage Nixon spoke from four years ago, just one night before he was elected to the state's top office.

Despite the cold temperatures, more than 100 supporters gathered as Nixon used his stance on education to separate himself from his opponent.

"We believe that the pathway for our kids starts as they start school, and we're going to do everything in our power to make sure that we have an excellent school system," Nixon said. "Not attack it, but build it. That's the difference between us and the other side."

A few blocks up the road at Waldo Pizza, members of Republican candidate Dave Spence's campaign met to plan their final push, which included a lot of signs and little sleep.

"We will leave here at 9 p.m. (Monday) evening, and we will be out until probably 5 a.m. putting up signs," Spence campaign field manager Zachary Brown said.

Brown says he and about 75 volunteers will be blanketing six Missouri counties with about 15,000 GOP signs.

"I think what we are seeing, at least statewide, is a lot of corruption, a lot of pay to play as far as getting into the governor's office, and that's top to bottom," Brown said. "We just want to be straight shooters. I want somebody to tell me like it is, and for me, it's the Republican candidates."