Senate candidates tangle on toll roads

KANSAS CITY, Mo - It was the first time St. Louis businessman John Brunner appeared at an event with the other candidates--- former state treasurer Sarah Steelman, and Congressman Todd Akin.

They're trying to win support from these Republican party activists at the annual Lincoln days gathering.

Sarah Steelman said as a conservative, she has, "a record as a proven conservative and I will fight...."

Todd Akin said, "first get rid of Obamacare."

"A candidate who has spent his entire life manufacturing a product stamped 'Made in the USA'," said Brunner, in reference to his work leading Vi-Jon.

While discussing the gasoline tax, Akin said he was in favor of turning I-70 into a toll road, saying it works in other states.

"Because when you do that it's a user fee, not a tax. If you don't use it, you don't pay the fee," said Akin.

Afterward, Steelman disagreed. "No, I don't agree with toll roads, I don't support them," she said.

As the forum ended, Brunner's staff handed out a news release attacking Steelman's lack of new ideas in her 60 day action plan.

But he didn't mention it during 90 minutes on stage with her.

When asked why by reporters, Brunner said, "To the best we can, we follow Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment, especially here with a bunch of Republicans. Try to be a little nice this first, this set up here. There will be plenty of times that we're gonna get a little tougher on the issues."

Steelman responded, "Well, that's too bad that he didn't have the guts to bring it up at the forum we were just at. We just sat here and had a public discussion."

The primary is in August, and the winner takes on the Democratic incumbent, Claire, McCaskill. A recent poll shows McCaskill has a tough battle to keep her seat no matter which Republican she faces.