Wrap: Carnahan came into the public's eye in 1999 when she led a campaign to keep a ban on carrying concealed firearms.

Carnahan has spent this campaign playing up her rural roots.

Her Republican opponent Roy Blunt's ads have done the same.

Blunt grew up on a small family farm near Springfield.

And Carnahan also grew up on her family's farm.

It was run by her dad, the late Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Long-time family friend and Carnahan assistant Marilyn Parrish says it has made her more well-rounded.

Actuality:	BULL.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "I'm Robin Carnahan. I approve this message because we're all fed up with the bull from Washington." (bull noise)

Carnahan's campaign is airing several ads attacking Blunt.

Including a country western radio ad.

Actuality:	BLUNT2.WAV
Run Time:	00:34
Description: "SINGER: Roy Blunt is shady as a rotten apple tree. He's looking out for someone, but it sure ain't you and me. Roy Blunt is the very worst of Washington, D.C. The way to spell corruption is B-L-U-N-T. Roy Blunt is the very worst of Washington, D.C. CARNAHAN: I'm Robin Carnahan, I'm running for the Senate and I approve this message. ANNOUNCER: Paid for by Robin Carnahan for Senate."

Carnahan supporter Nicki Powers of St. Louis says she doesn't mind the ads.

Actuality:	POWERS20.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "Negative campaigning works to be honest with you. I think people tell you it turns them off, but I think it does change- I think it does sway their opinions, tremendously."

But all the negativity is wearing on some Carnahan supporters...Here's Owensville resident Jenny Belloir (Bell-OR).

Actuality:	BELLOIR2.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "Honestly, though my vote goes for Carnahan, I am disgusted."

Even with some displeasure, Carnahan said in an earlier interview in the campaign she's sticking by her ads.

Actuality:	CARNA6.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "It kind of reminds me of Harry Truman who said, 'I don't give 'em hell, I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.'"

One controversial Carnahan attack ad uses a 2006 Blunt interview with the Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace.

Actuality:	FOXNEWS.WAV
Run Time:	00:29
Description: CARNAHAN: "I'm Robin Carnahan and I approve this message. CHRIS WALLACE: You just said a moment ago that you have to show you're the party of reform, but some question whether you are the man to do that. In 2002, you tried to insert language into the Homeland Security Act to help Philip Morris tobacco while you were dating that company's lobbyist, and your campaign committees paid $485,000 to a firm linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Are you the one to clean up the House? ANNOUNCER: Roy Blunt -- The very worst of Washington."

MU political science professor Marvin Overby says the ad does its purpose.

Actuality:	OVERBY6.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "It's a pretty effective ad I think, which is why the Blunt people are upset about it. That's probably why Fox people are upset about it."

So upset that Fox News sued the Carnahan campaign.

Carnahan says she'll fight the suit and will keep airing the ad.

She's fought through difficult times before...Carnahan is a breast cancer survivor.

Carnahan's assistant, Parrish:

Actuality:	MARILYN4.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "She's had a lot of tragedy in her life and I think because of that she's just become a stronger person."

Her father, Mel Carnahan, died in a plane crash 10 years ago during his own U.S. Senate campaign.

Her brother Randy was piloting the plane and also died in the crash.

Mel Carnahan died about two weeks from election day.

Parrish says Carnahan's speech at her dad's funeral included one of her dad's favorite sayings.

Actuality:	MARILYN5.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "When he passed away and she made a speech, she said the last thing he'd say before he left every morning was, 'Don't let the fire go out.'"

Parrish says Carnahan is still paying tribute to her father in this campaign.

Actuality:	MARILYN6.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "What she wants to do is not the let the fire go out for anything, anybody in Missouri."

Carnahan's campaign declined to be interviewed for this report.

From Jefferson City, I'm Michael Langenberg.

Wrap: Robin Carnahan came into the public's eye in 1999 when she led a campaign to keep a ban on carrying concealed firearms.

Carnahan has spent this campaign playing up her rural roots.

Carnahan grew up on her family's farm, run by her dad, the late Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Long-time family friend and Carnahan assistant Marilyn Parrish says it has made her more well-rounded.

Actuality:	MARILYN7.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "I think it shows that she's a diversified person. That she can be an attorney in St. Louis while still caring about people on the farm."

Like Carnahan, her Republican opponent Roy Blunt's ads have promoted his rural roots.

Blunt grew up on a family farm too.

From Jefferson City, I'm Michael Langenberg.

Wrap

Actuality:	BELLOIR2.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "Honestly, though my vote goes for Carnahan, I am disgusted."

That's Owensville resident Jenny Belloir (Bell-OR).

She's not the only Carnahan supporter upset with the attack ads this campaign season.

But even with some displeasure, Carnahan said in an interview earlier in the campaign she's sticking by her ads.

Actuality:	CARNA6.WAV
Run Time:	00:05
Description: "It kind of reminds me of Harry Truman who said, 'I don't give 'em hell, I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.'"

One of the ads led Fox News to sue the Carnahan campaign for using a 2006 Blunt interview with the network's Chris Wallace.

Carnahan says she'll fight the suit and keep airing the ad.

From Jefferson City, I'm Michael Langenberg.

Wrap:

Long-time family friend and Carnahan assistant Marilyn Parrish says adversity for the Democratic Senate hopeful is nothing new.

Actuality:	MARILYN4.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "She's had a lot of tragedy in her life and I think because of that she's just become a stronger person."

Her father, Mel Carnahan, died in a plane crash 10 years ago during his own U.S. Senate campaign about two weeks from election day.

Her brother Randy was piloting the plane and also died in the crash.

Doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer four years ago ... and Carnahan beat it.

Fox News sued the Carnahan campaign for an attack ad in mid-September.

And since mid-August, her Republican opponent Roy Blunt has been above 50 percent in every poll taken.

From Jefferson City, I'm Michael Langenberg.