Pushing up against an ironclad campaign deadline, embattled Republican Todd Akin said again today that he's staying in the race against Claire McCaskill.
"We're not going anywhere," Akin wrote on Twitter at about 9:30 a.m. "RT (re-tweet) this if you're standing with us!"
But Akin jangled more than a few nerves earlier today by announcing a 2 p.m. news conference in downtown St. Louis. With today being the deadline for withdrawing from the race, Akin's camp did not announce what the purpose of the news conference was.
"This afternoon, Todd Akin will be holding a press conference in downtown St. Louis," was all the news release said.
But Akin has given no signs that he was contemplating a withdrawal and has said many times he's in the race all the way through November.
On Monday Akin campaigned in St. Louis with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who predicted that Republicans would flock back to Akin in the weeks ahead. Many, including GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, abandoned him following his remarks in August on "legitimate rape" and Akin's assertion that raped women possess a biological ability to ward off pregnancy.
"Republicans across this country understand that Todd Akin is key to our winning control of the Senate,’’ Gingrich said. “Every Republican needs to ask himself a question: Do you really want (Nevada Sen.) Harry Reid back as the majority leader?”
The Akin camp also has announced a statewide bus tour that begins today in St. Louis and will reach Kansas City on Friday. Akin has scheduled a news conference at 10 a.m. Friday in the Crown Center area (no specific location announced).
At 11:45 a.m. Friday, he'll greet volunteers at the Clay County GOP Headquarters, 5918 NW 63rd St. At 12:30, he is to be at Chappell's, 323 Armour Road, in North Kansas City.
Meanwhile, McCaskill’s campaign has continued to pound Akin for what the Democrat said was a position flip on earmarks as a way to ensure that he would gain the financial backing of a prominent earmark opponent, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.
DeMint controls a well-funded political committee and hinted last week that he may come to Akin's aid in the weeks ahead.
Akin's fundraising has taken a massive hit since his comment on rape victims.
The McCaskill camp released a web video in which Akin is seen defending the use of earmarks over the years.
Earmarks are spending projects that members of Congress can privately insert into appropriations bills. McCaskill is also an earmark opponent.
"It’s shocking that Todd Akin’s willing to sell his support for an earmark ban, especially after defending the practice in campaign ads just two months ago,” said McCaskill spokesman Erik Dorey. “Akin’s decision to sell his support for an earmark ban is the kind of Washington politics that Missourians hate."
Akin's camp has defended his position, saying only that "Todd's position on earmarks has been clear and consistent and is not in conflict with Senator DeMint's ban on earmarks." Akin has not elaborated on that stand.
