Changes

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>Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe, ''The Washington Post,'' August 22, 2012, p. A4.</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>Paul Kane and Ed O'Keefe, ''The Washington Post,'' August 22, 2012, p. A4.</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." 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>  

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 web|url=https://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’|publisher=''[[The Washington Post]]''|date=August 24, 2012|author=Sean 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 web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80203.html?hp=t3_3|title=Missouri delegates angry at Mitt Romney over Todd Akin|author=Manu Raju|date=August 27, 2012|accessdate=September 2, 2012|publisher=''[[Politico]]''}}</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 web|url=https://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’|publisher=''[[The Washington Post]]''|date=August 24, 2012|author=Sean 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 web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80203.html?hp=t3_3|title=Missouri delegates angry at Mitt Romney over Todd Akin|author=Manu Raju|date=August 27, 2012|accessdate=September 2, 2012|publisher=''[[Politico]]''}}</ref>