Obama to fundraise for Carnahan in Missouri

President Barack Obama will host a July fundraiser in Kansas City for Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan (D).

Obama will be in the state July 8 for the event, according to local media reports.

The last time Obama was in Missouri for a fundraiser, Carnahan was absent. In March, when Obama was in St. Louis for a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event, Carnahan was in Washington.

But she did join Obama in April when he toured an ethanol plant in Macon, Mo.

Carnahan is in a tough Senate campaign with Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for retiring Sen. Kit Bond's (R-Mo.) seat. 

Republicans criticized Carnahan for holding a "swanky fundraiser."

“Swanky fundraisers with Democrat heavyweights won’t convince Missouri voters that Robin Carnahan’s unwavering loyalty to Barack Obama’s big-government agenda will result in anything but perpetually high unemployment and a skyrocketing national debt.   Instead of asking Barack Obama to show her the money, Robin Carnahan would be better off if he could show her the jobs," Republican National Committee spokesman Bill Rigggs said in a statement.

Polling has shown the candidates stay within a few points of one another, and the race is considered a toss-up.

Both candidates come into the race with famous last names. Blunt served as the state secretary of state for two terms and unsuccessfully ran for governor. His son Matt Blunt served one term as governor of the state. Carnahan is the daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and former Sen. Jean Carnahan. Her brother Russ Carnahan is a member of the House of Representatives.

-- This post was updated at 5:23 p.m.