Changes

A [[veteran]], Congressman Akin has been a leader on military issues in the [[Republican Party]] in [[Congress]].  He is also a minister who has championed the greater use of [[prayer]] and [[charity]].  His family has [[homeschooled]] their children.

A [[veteran]], Congressman Akin has been a leader on military issues in the [[Republican Party]] in [[Congress]].  He is also a minister who has championed the greater use of [[prayer]] and [[charity]].  His family has [[homeschooled]] their children.

== 2012 Senate Campaign ==

== 2012 Senate Campaign ==

Akin won the August 7, 2012 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in a three-way field.<ref name=wsj2>{{cite news|title=Todd Akin's Sinking Ship|work=Wall Street Journal|page=A12|date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> The [[Club for Growth]] and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] backed John Brunner in the primary, while [[Sarah Palin]] supported former state official Sarah Steelman.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akin case tests power of GOP's heirarchy|author=Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe|work=Washington Post|page=A4|date=August 22, 2012}}</ref>  

Akin won the August 7, 2012 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in a three-way field.<ref name=wsj2>{{cite news|title=Todd Akin's Sinking Ship|work=Wall Street Journal|page=A12|date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> The [[Club for Growth]] and the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]] backed John Brunner in the primary, while [[Sarah Palin]] supported former state official Sarah Steelman.<ref>{{cite news|title=Akin case tests power of GOP's heirarchy|author=Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe|work=Washington Post|page=A4|date=August 22, 2012}}</ref>  In an April primary debate, Akin said that federally guaranteed student loans were a "Stage 3 cancer of socialism."<ref name=wp910>{{cite news|title=With Senate at stake, GOP awaits Akin's next move|author=Rosalind S. Helderman and Jason Horowitz|work=Washington Post|page=A1|date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

Akin is running against the Democratic incumbent [[Claire McCaskill]] in the general election.  Two weeks after his primary victory, Akin defended his principled [[pro-life]] position by indicating his opposition to abortion for pregnancy supposedly due to rape. A media firestorm ensued (see below), perhaps initiated by [[RINO]]s, but [[conservatives]] defended Akin's principled remarks.  For example, Connie Mackey of the [[Family Research Council]] called the discussion of Akin's remarks "another case of 'gotcha politics' against a conservative leader."<ref name=wsj/> On August 22, Akin met with leaders of the [[Council for National Policy]] in Tampa, Florida, who indicated their unwavering support for his campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80027.html|title=Todd Akin in Tampa with top social conservatives|date=August 22, 2012|work=Politico|first=Kate|last=Nocera|accessdate=August 23, 2012}}</ref> On August 24, 2012, Akin held a press conference to announce, "We are going to be here through the November election and we are going to be here to win,” he said. Akin added, “there may be some negotiations but they don’t include me.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/08/24/todd-akin-we-are-going-to-be-here-through-the-november-election/|title=Todd Akin: ‘We are going to be here through the November election’|work=Washington Post|date=August 24, 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|accessdate=August 25, 2012}}</ref> At the Missouri delegation breakfast at the Republican National Convention, many delegates voiced support for Akin's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80203.html?hp=t3_3|title=Missouri delegates angry at Mitt Romney over Todd Akin|first=Manu|last=Raju|date=August 27, 2012|accessdate=September 2, 2012|work=Politico}}</ref>

Akin is running against the Democratic incumbent [[Claire McCaskill]] in the general election.  Two weeks after his primary victory, Akin defended his principled [[pro-life]] position by indicating his opposition to abortion for pregnancy supposedly due to rape. A media firestorm ensued (see below), perhaps initiated by [[RINO]]s, but [[conservatives]] defended Akin's principled remarks.  For example, Connie Mackey of the [[Family Research Council]] called the discussion of Akin's remarks "another case of 'gotcha politics' against a conservative leader."<ref name=wsj/> On August 22, Akin met with leaders of the [[Council for National Policy]] in Tampa, Florida, who indicated their unwavering support for his campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80027.html|title=Todd Akin in Tampa with top social conservatives|date=August 22, 2012|work=Politico|first=Kate|last=Nocera|accessdate=August 23, 2012}}</ref> On August 24, 2012, Akin held a press conference to announce, "We are going to be here through the November election and we are going to be here to win,” he said. Akin added, “there may be some negotiations but they don’t include me.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/08/24/todd-akin-we-are-going-to-be-here-through-the-november-election/|title=Todd Akin: ‘We are going to be here through the November election’|work=Washington Post|date=August 24, 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|accessdate=August 25, 2012}}</ref> At the Missouri delegation breakfast at the Republican National Convention, many delegates voiced support for Akin's candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80203.html?hp=t3_3|title=Missouri delegates angry at Mitt Romney over Todd Akin|first=Manu|last=Raju|date=August 27, 2012|accessdate=September 2, 2012|work=Politico}}</ref>

== Comments on rape and pregnancy ==

== Comments on rape and pregnancy ==