Todd Akin Campaign Rallies a Final Time in St. Louis Ahead of Tuesday's Election
The U.S. Senate candidate's campaign also addresses reports about the Congressman's arrests in the 1980s at abortion protests.
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On Saturday night, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin held what an aide said would likely be the campaign's last campaign rally in St. Louis prior to Tuesday's general election.
At what his campaign described as a "Family Values Rally" at Westminster Christian Academy in Town and Country, Akin, currently the 2nd District U.S. Congressman from Wildwood, touched on familiar themes in his campaign against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
Citing McCaskill's record supporting President Obama'a healthcare reform and the federal stimulus bill, among other areas, the Wildwood Republican called McCaskill Obama's "strong right arm" in front of an audience geared toward religious conservatives.
Akin was introduced by former St. Charles County Executive Joe Ortwerth, who talked about serving with both McCaskill and Akin in the Missouri General Assembly in the 1980s. Ortweth pointed to what he called McCaskill's "liberal to ultra-liberal" voting record at that time and to a voting record as a U.S. Senator that was not that of a "middle of the road Missouri moderate."
The National Journal is shedding new light this weekend on Akin's record before he became a state representative, reporting that he was arrested a total of eight times as part of anti-abortion protests in Missouri and Illinois starting in 1985, before he was elected to the state legislature in 1988.
The campaign did not make Akin available to talk with reporters Saturday night, but senior adviser Rick Tyler called it "the world's most boring rap sheet," according to St. Louis Beacon reporter Jo Mannies. Tyler told Patch it was "a 25-year old charge."
Saturday's event also featured Christian recording artist Twila Paris and Grant Williams, the former St. Louis Ram, now the St. Louis Cardinals team chaplain. It was hosted by "Missouri Women Standing With Todd Akin," a group that came about in the days after Akin's controversial remarks about abortion and pregnancy. Those comments, for which he later apologized, had many Republicans calling for him to leave the race.
At least one person in the audience felt the campaign should be going in another direction in the final days.
A woman named Margaret, who didn't want her last name used, sat eating the chili supper prior to the evening's festivities and described herself as a "radical", part of a group of Tea Party members who rally every Saturday morning at the corner of Highways K and N in St. Charles County.
"We don't want to preach to the choir," she said. "We should go where the Democrats are," she added, saying that she's been able to convince at least one Democrat to flip to the Akin column.
Tyler, the campaign strategist countered:
"During the campaign you go out and try to win over persuadables, those are people who could be swayed, who make up their minds and then in the end, in the last 10 days, you need to return to your base," he said.
McCaskill's final "Get out the vote" rally in St. Louis County will be Saturday at a Machinists union hall in Bridgeton.
PaulRevere
3:34 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Well I agree with Margaret.
Preaching to the choir is not the best way to win elections.
If any candidate runs on "moral" principles, then you need to explain those moral principles.
Democrat minds can be changed. That means talking directly to them.
I find 10% of the people will change their mind on "moral" principles.
Family , business-success and Health are all directly affected by "moral standards"
Arthur Christopher Schaper
6:56 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Todd Akin is a good man.
I wish I could vote for him, campaign for him.
Rather than focusing on his boring rapsheet defending unborn children, people should be focusing on McCaskill's 100% pro-abortion record with NARAL, among other things that she has said and done:
http://ofallon.patch.com/blog_posts/what-will-claire-say-next-09516beb
Vote for Todd Akin for US Senate!
Chris Weber
10:24 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
This is old news and was hashed out then. Must be a sign of desperation from the Democrats to rely upon negative campaign tactics. (Holds equally as well the other way as well)
Lura Holt
7:00 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Preaching to the choir is the only thing the man can do. His entire time in congress he has refused to meet with anyone who doesn't agree with him. His "Town Hall" phone participation calls that I get are a joke. Carefully screened questions so he can avoid the difficult questions. Pretty cowardly.
Elizabeth O'Fallon
7:54 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
We went to a Akin Rally today at the North County Republican Headquarters on Howdershell Rd. The event was extremely last minute and still packed the place with 70+ people. My kids met him, and talked with him. Mr. Akin seems very down to earth. He's got my vote tomorrow.
Arthur Christopher Schaper
10:33 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Liz:
Thanks for your continued support for Todd Akin.
The more that I have read up on his "comments", the more I am convinced that he has a savvy command of free-market principles, and he poses a threat to all Big Government types, including Claire McCaskill.
I cannot vote for the man, but I am there in spirit with all the Akin supporters.
Thanks again, Liz! Go Todd Go!
Arthur Christopher Schaper
11:16 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
"Earmarks for his district" or "tax credit'
Ron Paul did the same thing for his district.
Still, every voter in this country must press our leaders to get our troops out of Afghanistant and bring them home!
One thing's for sure -- McCaskill will be rubber stamp for spending, far worse than anything Todd would do.
Caffeinated
7:42 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Hi Arthur! Just stopped in to let you know I'm getting ready to head out to the polls to cast my ballot for Claire! Looking forward to her continuing to look out for my interests as an actual constituent.
Assuming you're not a felon, I hope you take the time to vote today in California. I'd wish you luck, but I sincerely hope you end up frustrated at the end of the day. I'll wish you health, instead...
The Missourian
8:10 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Me too. Actually voting a straight Democratic ticket. I refuse to peripherally support GOP Tea Party policies by adding to their numbers at any level.
RDBet
11:21 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Artie: do you have something against health care coverage for those with preexisting conditions. The free market would never have allowed something so Christian to occur.
RDBet
11:32 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Intrade shares on GOP control of the senate are pretty cheap right now. Now's your chance to stock up and make a fortune! Just think of the good Godly work you could do with that money Artie. You could call yourself a master of the free markets. God, meet Mammon. Or Mitt.
You never know, those shares could pay off. Aready early reports of GOP voter suppression tactics in full swing. Nice guys like you fanning out across the nation.
JP
8:07 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ROMNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JP
8:17 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Just voted for the Romney / Ryan ticket. Could careless about the McCaskill / Akin vote...Missouri is a lost cause.