Spence Secures GOP Gubernatorial Nomination; Nixon Touts Record

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Dave Spence, a 54-year-old businessman, has secured his party's nomination in the race for Missouri Governor.

Spence was CEO for Alpha Packaging for more than 25 years but stepped down to run against Gov. Jay Nixon.

He released a statement Tuesday evening: "I'm honored to have earned the Republican nomination for governor. My campaign's pro-jobs message is clearly resonating.  In this economy, we need for a proven job creator in the governor's office who cares more about Missourians keeping their jobs than him keeping his."

According to the Missouri Watchdog, if Spence has a chance to defeat the popular and moderate Nixon, his best chance is to run on his business record, which has been one of Nixon's weaknesses.

After Spence secured the nomination Tuesday, Bob McDonnell, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, issued the following statement:

"There's no question that Missouri is struggling under Governor Jay Nixon. The state economy lags behind neighboring states, tens of thousands of Missourians have lost their jobs and even more are struggling to make ends meet. Missouri needs a governor like Dave Spence who knows what it takes to create jobs. Dave's built a successful company that's employed hundreds of Missourians, and he has a business plan for Missouri that will strengthen the economy and add well-paying jobs."

In an election night party Tuesday at University Plaza in Springfield, Gov. Nixon told supporters that his record of reaching across the aisle will help move Missouri forward.

"Instead of yelling at each other, we're working with each other. We're not pointing fingers. We're extending hands. Together, we're showing that there's a lot more that unites Missourians than divides us."

Gov. Nixon highlighted what he says are bi-partisan efforts to balance the state budget without raising taxes, revive the state's auto industry, protect the state's perfect AAA credit and to make college more affordable for thousands of Missouri families.