Akin cares little about pressure from GOP leaders
Aug 22, 2012, 9:02 PM
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Until this week, Rep. Todd Akin was virtually unknown beyond his suburban St. Louis district, associated more with his deep religious convictions than any legislative achievements.
Long before his comments about women’s bodies and “legitimate rape,” Akin was a favorite among home-schooling organizations and conservative church groups in the area where his relatives have lived for generations. He seldom authored bills or sought wider recognition.
Now he insists on waging a Senate race that leaders of his own party figure he can’t win. But if Akin’s 12 years in Congress have proven anything, it’s that pressure from the Republican establishment carries little weight with him.
Ken Warren is a political science professor at Saint Louis University. He says Akin won’t compromise his principles just to be in the mainstream.
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