The primary is over. The general election is on. Republicans have chosen southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt as their nominee to hold on to the seat being vacated by Republican Senator Bond. Democrats have chosen Secretary of State Robin Carnahan as their candidate.

Democrat Robin Carnahan expects a tough, close race.

“I think it will be a close election, something we often have in Missouri, but one that is again going to give voters a really clear choice, between somebody who has been standing up for them, getting money back for consumers, $10 billion from big financial institutions and cutting red tape and costs for small business, that’s my record here,” Carnahan tells the Missourinet. “And Congressman Blunt’s got a record of being in Washington. I think he’s had a chance to get our country on track and it hadn’t worked.”

This race could become a referendum on President Obama and the Democratically controlled Congress. Carnahan says that’s how Republican Roy Blunt wants to frame it, but it should break on the difference between the two candidates, not on national issues.

It’s a stance that Blunt rejects.

“This is a race about the issues. It’s a race about two different philosophies of government,” Blunt tells the Missourinet. “It’s a race that is the kind of competition that Missourians want and Missourians deserve.”

Blunt says it is a national race, because the winner will have a profound impact on national policy.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:60 MP3]