( KTRS ) U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is getting help from the National Rifle Association as he campaigns for re-election.

Leaders of the powerful gun rights group will be joining Sen. Blunt at campaign stops today, through out the state.

The NRA’s political action committee says it has endorsed Blunt because of his “strong record of protecting Second Amendment freedoms.”

Blunt, a Republican, is running against Democratic secretary of state Jason Kander. On Wednesday Kander was endorsed by the Missouri National Education Association.