Rep. Todd Akin has supporters in high places. On Tuesday and into Wednesday, the embattled Republican from Missouri campaigned with former presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich in the Kansas City area. A few days ahead of Akin's visit to western Missouri, he sat down for an interview with conservative radio host Dave Weinbaum to discuss foreign policy and the Obama administration. Meanwhile, WND TV interviewed Rick Santorum who blamed the media for Akin's problems.
What were Akin and Gingrich doing in Kansas City?
The pair were fundraising in Lee's Summit on Monday. One event featured a $50-per-plate "power lunch" followed by a $40 "dessert social" at a country club. Rick Tyler, a former aide to Gingrich now with the Akin campaign, told the Associated Press his candidate wants to raise $200,000 in the final week before the election. The ultimate goal is to spend $1 million in advertising leading up to Tuesday.
What was the reaction to the fundraiser by the headliners?
Gingrich told the Kansas City Star the Tuesday fundraiser was "the first fundraiser I've ever gone to that spontaneously became a rally." The former Speaker of the House called Akin's supporters "dedicated" and they have "intensity." Akin told the Star he had one regret -- "one interview that I wished I had turned down." That particular interview was when the conservative made his now-infamous "legitimate rape" comment.
How does the Akin campaign like its fundraising situation now?
Akin revealed to KCTV he's been hampered by a 10-to-1 spending ratio versus his opponent, incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill. The representative said he is "just getting around and talking to people because we've been out-spent by a tremendous amount in terms of television advertising." That will change in the week leading up to the election on Tuesday when an advertising blitz is scheduled to hit the airwaves.
What did Akin say to Weinbaum in terms of his stance on foreign policy?
Akin had some choice words for how President Barack Obama has handled America's foreign policy during his time in the White House. The conservative said he was "spitting nails" about the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya. After a brief memory lapse, Akin told Weinbaum he felt like Obama let Poland and the Czech Republic down "in order to kiss up to the Russians" regarding missile defense. The Republican asserts Russia has done nothing to help the United States in terms of Iran or Syria.
Can Akin overcome his "legitimate rape" gaffe and win?
Also in the Weinbaum interview, the challenger downplayed polling numbers that have him behind. He told the radio host he doesn't "trust them" and will keep campaigning as if he will win. Santorum, also a former presidential candidate, came to Akin's defense. The Pennsylvania Republican blamed the "screwed up media" for turning Akin's "dumb thing" into an election issue. Santorum had a forgive-and-forget attitude when he spoke with WND-TV and said, "Akin...certainly misspoke in a way that certainly was offensive. But candidates, unfortunately, do that all the time." Santorum then backed up the conservative by calling Akin a "good and competent public servant" who hopes "the people of Missouri are good and decent" enough to elect him to office despite the controversial remark.
William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics.
