Posted on 05/17/2011 8:26:13 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
Congressman Todd Akin is set to kick-start the 2012 campaign, announcing today his entry into the race for U.S. Senate in a move that will set off a cascade of maneuvering among those trying to replace the Wildwood Republican in the House.
Akin's decision to leave his relatively safe perch in Congress — he hasn't had a competitive race in over a decade — to challenge U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill underscores the belief among many Republicans that the incumbent Democrat is vulnerable.
McCaskill's close relationship with the White House, along with the recent disclosure she failed to pay taxes on her private plane, may be a liability with many Missouri voters. Even so, McCaskill is as battle-tested as any state official.
Akin has a strong conservative voting record, but he is hardly a household name, even in the area he has represented for more than two decades in Washington and Jefferson City. While Akin has attempted to reach out to other corners of the state through the Tea Party movement, he has never run statewide before. That makes him a virtual unknown in places such as southwest Missouri, which offers deep pockets of GOP voters.
And Akin would have to beat a candidate with statewide experience before he could even get to McCaskill. Former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who ran for governor in 2008, also is seeking the Republican nomination for Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Missouri ping.
Dream on.
Nope, still supporting Steelman, 100%.
Sarah Steelman will win. She has strong support here in southwest Missouri and she’s got a lot of support in the Kansas City area, as well.
Is the Missouri GOP trying to stop Steelman AGAIN?
He's a better candidate and, I believe, would make a better Senator than Steelman, who was born into politics and has worked for the government most or all of her career.
I'm of the opinion that a primary is good for the party, and for the country. They both seem conservative, from the little I've read, and a hard fought primary will make them clearly state their positions. Also. McCaskill will not go down easily...she'll have lots of support and $$, and a primary will toughen up the winner for the general election.
I'm of the opinion that a primary is good for the party, and for the country. They both seem conservative, from the little I've read, and a hard fought primary will make them clearly state their positions. Also. McCaskill will not go down easily...she'll have lots of support and $$, and a primary will toughen up the winner for the general election.
Here is Flordia, where we really wanna beat Nelson, we have two good candidates for the Senate race( along with that idiot LeMieux, who has NO chance) The primary will be good for everyone.
I think Akin has the most solid conservative roots/convictions of the declared candidates and the one least likely to lose them if elected to the Senate.
And I don't even own a coffee table....Sarah is a knife fighter. Takes no prisoners. This bodes ill for Akin. Republicans as well.
Low volume ping list
FReepmail me to be on, or off, this list.
I live in his district and am truly sad to see him go. If the rumors are true, Rusty is going to go after Akins seat.
Even without Akin running for reelection, Russ Carnahan can’t win the redrawn MO-02. I think he’ll run for Lt. Gov. instead.
As for your district, Ed Martin would make a worthy successor to Akin.
ANYBODY but a Carnahan!
I am kind of down on Ed Martin since the 2010 NOV election. It looked like he ran hard enough, but I don’t think he spent enough time in Jefferson county (below Arnold) or in the City campaigning. I don’t think he has the cojones to win a state wide national implication race, he’s too milquetoast.
I agree that Rusty is finished in the House, as without the wedge of of the City of STL he doesn’t stand a chance in ANY of the redrawn districts. I don’t think he can win any statewide race either given his past performance. I would be really surprised if he won Lt. Governor.
Who should/will be the Republican candidate for this congressional district now? I don't know. This is the first I've heard about Akin not running again.
Ed Martin? Is he in this newly-refigured district? If Russ moves into it, since he's been squeezed out by Clay, we could have Martin vs. Carnahan, Part II. I'll have to read the rest of the article now, to see what the speculation is.
Akin is routinely among the most conservative members of Congress. He has a lifetime 97.8 rating, out of a possible 100, from the American Conservative Union.
He has been a staunch critic of President Barack Obama's stimulus package, voted against the 2008 bank bailout and has been a vocal proponent of a Republican budget plan that proposes wide changes in Medicaid and Medicare.
Akin has spoken at Tea Party events around the state. His pull within the group is such that St. Louis Republican Ed Martin — who was endorsed by the Tea Party in his last campaign — withdrew from the Senate primary when it became clear he would have to run against Akin. Instead, he will seek Akin's current House seat.
Ann Wagner, among others, is also running or considering for Akin’s seat.
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