The top of the Missouri Republican ticket came to town Wednesday, holding a rally at its St. Louis Victory headquarters in Valley Park.

Ann Wagner, a candidate for Congress in the 2nd District acted as the hostess for the rally, introducing the speakers and vowing to turn Missouri into a "firecracker red" state following November's elections. In the parlance of politics, Democratic-leaning states are blue, Republican states are red.

Wagner's rousing introductions had the crowd cheering for each candidate who took to the microphone to rally the vote. Each candidate used predictable buzzwords designed to elicit cheers or boos. Any mention of "true conservative," for example, had the room rocking. As did "Romney/Ryan" and even "photo ID."

Mentions of Barack Obama or Claire McCaskill or Jay Nixon conversely brought moans of disapproval. Each candidate who took the podium played to the partisan crowd, which seemed ready to hit the streets immediately to talk up their favorite GOP hopeful.

Wagner made sure to tap into the excitement generated this week by the top of the GOP ticket nationally by mentioning Mitt Romney's selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate in the November Presidential election.

Ed Martin, whose Missouri Attorney General campaign headquarters are in the St. Louis Victory office where Wednesday's rally was held, took the floor from there, talking about character as the common thread that is woven through all of the Republican candidates at the rally. 

Martin handed off to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, who isn't up for election this year, but used the opportunity to declare his desire to see Sen. Harry Reid replaced as the Senate Majority Leader.

The man who hopes to add his Republican voice to the U.S. Senate - Rep. Todd Akin (R-2nd District) - was next to the microphone. Akin is challenging incumbent McCaskill in the Senate race that will be decided Nov. 6.

Dave Spence, whose large campaign bus carried the candidates to a variety of stops on a two-day schedule of rallies, came to the podium, extolling his business experience and pointing to the failures of his November opponent - Gov. Jay Nixon. Spence talked about a promise he has stencilled on his campaign bus, "Jobs for Missouri."

Other speakers at Wednesday's rally were Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich, Missouri Lieutenant Governor candidate Peter Kinder, Missouri Secretary of State candidate Shane Schoeller and Missouri Treasurer candidate Cole McNary.