Changes

==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|publisher=''the Wall Street Journal''|page=A12|date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> Akin was endorsed by fellow Representatives [[Michele Bachmann]] of [[Minnesota]] and [[Steve King]] of [[Iowa]],<ref>https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/24282/akin_tea_party_endorsement_041212</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 web|title=Akin case tests power of GOP's heirarchy|author=Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe|publisher=''The 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 web|title=With Senate at stake, GOP awaits Akin's next move|author=Rosalind S. Helderman and Jason Horowitz|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-senate-at-stake-gop-waits-on-akins-next-move-mccaskill-goes-on-offense/2012/09/09/584d77bc-f8ef-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_story.html|publisher=''The Washington Post''|page=A1|date=September 10, 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|publisher=''the Wall Street Journal''|page=A12|date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> Akin was endorsed by fellow Representatives [[Michele Bachmann]] of [[Minnesota]] and [[Steve King]] of [[Iowa]],<ref>https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/24282/akin_tea_party_endorsement_041212</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 web|title=Akin case tests power of GOP's heirarchy|author=Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe|publisher=''The 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 web|title=With Senate at stake, GOP awaits Akin's next move|author=Rosalind S. Helderman and Jason Horowitz|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-senate-at-stake-gop-waits-on-akins-next-move-mccaskill-goes-on-offense/2012/09/09/584d77bc-f8ef-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_story.html|publisher=''The Washington Post''|page=A1|date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

Akin ran 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 true [[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 web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80027.html|title=Todd Akin in Tampa with top social conservatives|date=August 22, 2012|publisher=Politico|author=Kate Nocera|accessdate=August 23, 2012}}</ref>  

Akin ran 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 true [[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 web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80027.html|title=Todd Akin in Tampa with top social conservatives|date=August 22, 2012|publisher=Politico|author=Kate Nocera|accessdate=August 23, 2012}}</ref>