Missouri's two major Republican candidates for lieutenant governor -- incumbent Peter Kinder and challenger Brad Lager -- are outspending all other candidates for statewide offices as the crowd heads into the final week before the Aug. 7 primary.

Lager, R-Savannah, reported that he had spent $1.3 million so far in July, compared to $1.2 million for Kinder, according to their latest campaign-finance reports, due Monday.  For both men, most of their spending went for TV ads.

The latest reports cover only the period since July 1. But they paint a portrait of a frenzy of activity -- on the air, in mailboxes and on the ground -- as Missouri's candidates head into the final stretch.

Kirkwood businessman Dave Spence, a Republican candidate for governor, has spent close to $800,000 on TV ads just in July as he seeks to secure the GOP nomination. That spending is in addition to several million dollars that he spent earlier this year on TV spots.

Also Monday, Spence donated another $500,000 to his campaign -- for a total of $3.2 million of his own money in the campaign. His latest contribution is not included to the report filed Monday.

Spence’s final-month spending dwarfs the campaign advertising of his two GOP rivals, consultant and minister Bill Randles of Kansas City and anti-abortion activist Fred Sauer.

Randles, who has been endorsed by the state’s two major newspapers, reported spending just $2,700 on radio ads and a little over $3,200 on banners.

Sauer reported spending about $183,000 total, on a variety of campaign efforts, including TV and radio ads, print advertising and mailers.

Meanwhile, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon – a Democrat -- has gone up on TV in a big way during the past week, as he waits to see which Republican he will face in November.

Nixon has no active Democratic challenger. But he hit the TV airwaves anyway in July. So far,  his campaign report shows that he has spent $427,500 during the month to produce and air TV spots. Even so, he raised $188,000 in July and still has almost $7.1 million in the bank.

In contrast, Spence raised only $60,000 in July and reported $244,993 in the bank (aside from that $500,000).

GOP spending dwarfs that of Democratic candidates

Back to the crowded lieutenant governor's contest.

Lager, a state senator from Savannah, reported that most of his final-month spending went toward an extensive television and radio campaign, which has included numerous attack ads against Kinder.

Lager's latest spending included $1,234,580 to Media Placement Technologies, an Alexandria,Va.-based media placement company.

After combining $81,130 worth of donations in July, Lager has $142,466.79 of cash on hand.

Kinder, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, raised more money-- $125,140. He spent $1,215,514.48 during July, including $1,086,770.96 to Marshfield-based Patrick Media for radio and television ads.

Reports also were filed by most of the eight Democrats running for lieutenant governor, although none of them report spending much in July. The Democrats appear to running low-profile campaigns:

• Former state Auditor Susan Montee raised $27,501, spent $20,943.08 and has $140,121.24 of cash on hand.
•  State Rep. Sara Lampe, R-Springfield, took in $17,044, spent $6,665.45 and has $35,870.18 of cash on hand.
• Former State Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, raised $14,677 in money as well as $1,293.20 in in-kind donations. After spending $64,045.95 – including more than $36,000 on direct mail – Baker has $33,520.67of cash on hand.
• St. Louis School Board member Bill Haas donated $10,200 to his campaign,  spent $8,030 and has $2,215 of cash on hand.
• Former state Rep. Fred Kratky, D-St. Louis, raised $6,120, spent $5,269.95 and has $69,878.22 in the bank.
• Missouri Conservation Commissioner Becky Plattner raised $250.00, spent $8,432.27 (including $7,889.18 placed on a credit card) and has $6,573.74 of cash on hand.
• Former state Rep. Jackie Townes McGee, D-Kansas City, took in $2,100, including a $200 loan. After spending $2,180.96, McGee has $72.06 of cash on hand.
• St. Joseph resident Dennis Weisenburger didn’t file a campaign finance report, as of Monday.

Rupp and Schoeller tangle for secretary of state

State Sen. Scott Rupp narrowly edged House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller in fundraising, while state Sen. Bill Stouffer continued to benefit from an extensive billboard campaign paid for by outdoor advertising companies.

The reports arrived as Rupp released a TV ad knocking Schoeller for, among other things, voting for a bill to set up health insurance exchanges in Missouri.

Rupp took in $43,355 in July, spent $51,217.87 and has $168,457.77 of cash on hand. Rupp’s fundraising is slightly better than Schoeller’s $42,297.76 haul.

But Schoeller spent far more in July: $240,951.14. He reported $103,149.12 of cash on hand.

In a move that effectively ended the tranquil tone of the secretary of state contest, Rupp released an ad on Monday that attacked Schoeller for being late on his residential and property taxes. He also criticized Schoeller for voting for legislation paving the way for health insurance exchanges, which received a 157-0 vote  in the Missouri House in 2011. 

The bill was blocked in the Missouri Senate, mainly because of opposition from state Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield.

Stouffer, R-Napton, raised $23,265 and took $86,128.70 in in-kind donations, primarily from billboard companies providing him with advertising. Stouffer’s extensive in-kind donations spurred interest from national news agencies such as ABC News and the Huffington Post. 

Both outlets noted the donations coincided with Stouffer's support of the outdoor advertising industry.

After spending $88,359.88 – including paying back $15,000 from a loan – Stouffer has $172,172.07 of cash on hand.

The sole major Democrat -- state Rep. Jason Kander, D-Kansas City -- outraised all three candidates during July, and continued to keep his expenses in check.

Kander took in $100,152 in monetary donations and $2,524.72 in in-kind donations. After spending $37,355.91, Kander has $860,012.07 of cash on hand.

Martin spends in AG race

St. Louis lawyer Ed Martin, a Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general, reported spending almost $254,000 on TV advertising in July, including ad production.  That compares to GOP rival Adam Lee Warren, who reported spending roughly $3,100 on ads to air on several outstate TV stations.

The Democratic incumbent, Chris Koster, reported raising $127,822 in July and spending only $27,185. Koster, who has no primary opponent, reported no expenses for TV or radio advertising, or any sort of campaign mailings. Koster reported almost $2.5 million in the bank, which he is apparently preserving for the general election.