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KANSAS CITY (AP) - Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and his Republican challenger both want to bolster Missouri's economy with more jobs. Their race may center on who can do a better job of that.

Spence easily turned back several primary challengers Tuesday and Nixon prevailed over nominal opposition to set up the November general election for Missouri's chief executive.

Spence is a suburban St. Louis businessman making his first run for office who poured nearly $3.3 million into his primary campaign. He touts himself as an experienced "job creator" and claims Missouri has fallen behind economically under Nixon's watch.

But Nixon says he is optimistic about Missouri's future. As evidence that the state is moving in the right direction, Nixon notes that Missouri's unemployment rate is below the national average.