Todd Akin's Senate Campaign Bus Tour Ended Friday Night

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood) finished out his week-long Missouri bus tour Friday night, with a rally at the Sheraton hotel in Westport Plaza.

Akin is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the August 7 primary election. Republicans hope to unseat Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.

A campaign spokesperson said the bus tour started in Springfield and went on to Joplin, Columbia and Kirksville. While in Liberty, MO, Akin served meals at Chick-Fil-A during the restaurant’s appreciation day Wednesday.

Other top GOP contenders are former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman and businessman John Brunner.

Chris Howard, a state Republican Party committeeman, emceed the Akin rally. He used quotes from the Bible, John Wayne and Ronald Reagan to raise the crowd's enthusiasm for Akin.

Akin told supporters that the primary race on Aug. 7 will be close, but that his campaign won’t push other GOP candidates down in order to get ahead.

The audience cheered Akin when he slammed the Obama administration, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on the court's health insurance decision.

Akin said his campaign tries to stand on principle.

“Talk and promises are one thing,” Akin said, “but a proven record is something else.”

During his speech he advocated for:

• the United States to withdraw from the United Nations, 
• for judges who defend the Constitution and 
• to add a Hancock Amendment that applies to the Federal level.

The St. Louis Beacon reported in 2011 that the Hancock amendment limited revenue raised by the state, and that it has become “complex."

Akin will face seven other candidates for the Republican senate nomination on Aug. 7. Check out the Chesterfield Patch election guide for the entire run-down of primary candidates.