JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Republican Dave Spence's campaign for Missouri governor is $1.1 million richer thanks to a contribution from the state affiliate of the national Republican Governors Association.
State campaign finance records show the Spence campaign received the funds Tuesday. Campaigns must report contributions of more than $5,000 to the Missouri Ethics Commission within 48 hours.
Spence is challenging Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in November.
Nixon received some help earlier in the campaign season from the Democratic Governors Association. The organization its Missouri affiliate $2.5 million, of which $1 million was passed along to Nixon's campaign.
Spence has begun running a TV ad linking Nixon to President Barack Obama.
The ad that began airing Tuesday criticizes the Democratic governor for implementing Obama's economic stimulus act in Missouri and shows pictures of Obama and Nixon together. Spence's ad claims the stimulus has failed and Missouri's economy is poor.
Nixon's campaign manager claimed Spence is running a "dishonest and desperate" campaign. Nixon asserts Missouri's economy has been improving.
Spence's move to more aggressively link Nixon to Obama mirrors the approach that Republicans have taken in challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, as well as in other races.