ST. LOUIS -- The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Missouri assembles an AR-15 assault rifle -- blindfolded -- then dares the incumbent Republican to do the same in a TV ad released Thursday.I approved this message, Jason Kander says, pausing briefly to rack the slide, figuratively placing a round in the chamber, `cause Id like to see Sen. Blunt do this.The brazen ad is the latest salvo in a competitive race that could be a factor in determining which party controls the Senate after the November election.Roy Blunt, 66, a seven-term congressman before being elected to the Senate in 2010, is a strong gun rights supporter who has the backing of the National Rifle Association -- so much so that NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre traveled to Missouri last month on Blunts behalf.Blunt received three student deferments during the Vietnam War and did not serve in the military. Kander, Missouris 35-year-old secretary of state, was an Army intelligence officer in Afghanistan.The 30-second spot shows Kander standing at a table in what looks to be an empty warehouse, talking while he blindly slams together the pieces of the weapon.He mentions attacks by Blunt on the issue of guns and says that while in the Army he learned to respect his rifle. He says that in Afghanistan, he volunteered to ride with a gun in a convoy of unarmed SUVs.He notes his support of Second Amendment rights during his time in the state legislature, along with his belief in background checks so terrorists cant get their hands on one of these.Kanders campaign said the ads are running statewide.Blunt spokesman Tate OConnor said Kander is apparently reacting to an NRA ad highlighting the fact that he was one of the most anti-Second Amendment legislators and was awarded an F for his opposition to Missourians Second Amendment rights.The Kander ad hits two themes that benefit Kander in a Middle America state like Missouri, said Ken Warren, a political scientist at Saint Louis University. It shows he knows his way around guns, and it plays up his military background.Militarism sells in Missouri, Warren said. The appeal is to people who like the patriotism.Gun rights are a big deal in Missouri, too. State lawmakers on Wednesday were successful in overriding Democratic Gov. Jay Nixons veto of a bill eliminating permit requirements to conceal and carry a firearm.Earlier this year, Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL officer, drew national attention for a TV ad in which he fired an assault rifle into an open field, causing an explosion. Greitens won the Republican primary and will face Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in November.Taurean Prince Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Taurean Prince Nets Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. 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David Nwaba Nets Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter.SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Crawford drove in three runs and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle, Jeff Samardzija overcame a shaky first inning to win and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Friday night.Brandon Belt walked four times and scored for the Giants after earlier in the day being voted by fans to fill the final spot on the NL roster for next weeks All-Star Game.Crawford homered, singled, walked and doubled. He hit his ninth home run of the season off Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin (4-7) in the second, four pitches after Corbin twice threw inside to Buster Posey leading to the ejection of Giants manager Bruce Bochy.Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale was ejected in the fifth.Jean Segura homered leading off the game for Arizona.Samardzija (9-5) walked three and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time in four starts. The right-hander gave up two runs, both in the first inning. Samardzija also scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error after doubling leading off the fifth.Three relievers completed the seven-hitter.Things got chippy in the second after Segura was hit by a pitch from Samardzija with a runner at third.Corbin responded by throwing inside to Posey on consecutive pitches in the bottom half of the inning. The second went behind Posey and nearly hit him in the back, causing home plate umpire Quinn Wolcottt to warn both dugouts.ddddddddddddBochy came out to argue and was ejected.Crawford followed Bochys ejection with a tying two-run home run. He added an RBI single in the third, walked in the fifth and doubled in the seventh.Hale was ejected after going to the mound to make a pitching change following Corbins bases loaded walk to Grant Green.Corbin allowed five runs over 4 2/3 innings. The left-hander walked five with one strikeout.Gregor Blanco hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth for the Giants.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: RHP Zack Grienke (left oblique strain) is feeling better but has not started playing catch. . INF Chris Owings (left foot plantar fasciitis) and OF David Peralta (low back sprain) took batting practice before the game.Giants: OF Hunter Pence (hamstring) ran the bases and will continue with baseball activities throughout the weekend. . RHP Matt Cain allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings with Triple-A Sacramento. . 2B Joe Panik (concussion) took grounders and hit off a tee before the game.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (4-7) makes his third start against the Giants this season Saturday. Ray pitched six scoreless innings to win at AT&T Park on April 19.Giants: RHP Jake Peavy (5-7) seeks his 18th career win against Arizona. ' ' '