Just days before Missouri's primary election, Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered changes at the St. Louis Election Board, effective immediately. Democrat Eileen McCann is the new chairperson of the board, with Republican Jack Lary serving as secretary. McCann, who has been on the board since 2006, replaces Republican Carol A. Wilson, who has been chairman for three years. Wilson is to remain on the board, a Nixon spokesman said.

U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, doesn't know who his Republican opponent will be -- in fact, Carnahan has two Democratic challengers in Tuesday's primary -- but the congressman already is calling for two debates featuring all the party nominees for Nov. 2. Carnahan is recommending that the debates, which would include the Libertarian candidate as well, be held in September in different parts of the far-flung 3rd congressional district.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay is putting his clout on the line Tuesday, as he declares political war on the incumbent circuit clerk. Slay is featured in a campaign mailer going out today on behalf of old law-school classmate Jane Schweitzer, who is challenging Circuit Clerk Mariano Favazza in Tuesday's Democratic primary. Slay is taking a political risk by making a number of endorsements in the city's contested primaries.

Chuck Berry didn't duck walk, but the 83-year-old rock-and-roll legend still brought the crowd to its feet and dancing in the aisles Thursday night as part of the city of St. Louis' pitch to host the Democratic National Convention in 2012.  The concert in Kiener Plaza also featured the Grammy-winning rap star Nelly. Also on tap while the convention scouts are in town: a "flash mob'' dance by Union Station.

A day after the news broke, some area Tea Party activists say they're not budging from their objections to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's decision to campaign here Saturday for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's bid for the U.S. Senate. "Whenever she endorses, she's taking our name with her," one Tea Party activist says. Bachmann will join Blunt at his phone bank operation Saturday morning, then headline a fundraising event.

The Missouri Democratic Party is getting involved in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, by filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission challenging the legality of the unorthodox ad campaign by "Joe the Plumber" (left) on behalf of state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, who's hoping to upset the best known GOP contender, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield.

Republican state auditor candidate Allen Icet rolled out an endorsement from former U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia, who made an unsuccessful GOP for governor in 2008. Hulshof praised Icet's experience as chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee. Icet is competing against St. Louis lawyer Tom Schweich, a former member of the Bush administration, in next Tuesday's GOP primary. Schweich is launching robo-calls featuring former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

State Sen. Rita Days, D-Bel Nor, is no longer neutral in the14th District contest to select her successor. Days has endorsed state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, who is competing against three other well-known Democrats. Days said today she has recorded a robo-call for Chappelle-Nadal, and is featured in a new mailer going out to voters.

Republican legislative leaders of the statewide effort to pass Proposition C offered up buoyant predictions of success in next Tuesday's statewide election, during a fund-raising rally Wednesday night in St. Charles. Speakers gave credit to God, among others, and had harsh words for the last-minute opposition campaign conducted by the Missouri Hospital Association.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan renewed her attacks Wednesday on her best-known Republican rival for the U.S. Senate -- U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt -- by touting him as part of the "culture of corruption in Washington" that she says is hurting average Missourians and small businesses. At a bakery here, Carnahan also said that the Roy Blunt who's been in Washington for 14 years isn't the same as the younger Roy Blunt who called for ethics and lobbyist reforms when he was Missouri secretary of state from 1985-93.