Akin cares little about pressure from GOP leaders
August 25, 2012
Until this week, Rep. Todd Akin was virtually unknown beyond his suburban district, associated more with his deep religious convictions than any legislative achievements.
Long before his comments about women's bodies and "legitimate rape" made him a potential flashpoint in the fall campaign, 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 Akin could help shape the national political debate in a Senate race that leaders of his own party figure he can't win, and they're worried he'll drag down other Republicans with him. But if Akin's 12 years in Congress have proven anything, it's that pressure from the party establishment carries little weight with him.
"He's never been popular among Republicans, and Todd Akin doesn't care," Saint Louis University political science professor Ken Warren said. "The best you can say for Todd is that he's a very principled guy. He believes what he believes, and he's not going to compromise those principles just to be in the mainstream."

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Posted by Ken at 4:50 AM