Tactically speaking, Akin should now discreetly court the national Tea Party, big time.
Here’s the logic.
Akin may still be too hot to publicly support as far as the Tea Party is concerned. However, if he makes it clear he is aligned with their bloc in the Republican party, and wants to work towards their ends when elected, it can work to their mutual advantage.
From the Tea Party’s point of view, it would mean another Tea Party senator. From Akin’s point of view, he would hope to be treated by the Tea Party as a member of their bloc after being elected, which means being a part of their team against the RINOs and Republican establishment that despised him.
Otherwise, as a loner in the senate, he will be fairly powerless. The Republican leadership, which hated him before, and hates him now, will continue to hate him when elected, and do everything they can to minimize him.
Unless he is backed by the Tea Party that will demand they treat him with respect.
He can make a lot of noise disagreeing with the establishment Republicans when they are about to do something stupid.