By Kevin Murphy
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept 27 (Reuters) – A conservative
fundraising group on Thursday endorsed Todd Akin in a key U.S.
Senate race in Missouri and pledged over $290,000 to his
campaign in a sign more Republicans are coming to his aid
despite his inflammatory comments about rape.
The backing from the Senate Conservatives Fund follows a
loss of support from other Republican groups after Akin last
month said women have biological defenses to prevent pregnancy
in cases of “legitimate rape”, making legal abortion
unnecessary.
Senior Republicans urged Akin to quit the race after his
comments distracted attention from the party’s nomination of
Mitt Romney for U.S. president and drew criticism from President
Barack Obama.
As the deadline for Akin to withdraw passed this week, 93
percent of Senate Conservatives Fund members surveyed backed
Akin in the race against incumbent Democratic Senator Claire
McCaskill.
“The response from our grassroots members was stronger than
we ever imagined,” fund Executive Director Matt Hoskins said in
a statement to Reuters. “Conservatives understand how important
this race is and they don’t like how the Republican
establishment has given up.”
Akin’s remarks complicated Republican efforts to capture the
four Democratic seats they need to ensure a majority in the
100-member Senate.
The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee
backed Akin this week in a race he looked likely to win prior to
his comments on rape. Former Republican presidential contender
Rick Santorum also endorsed Akin on Wednesday.
The Senate Conservatives Fund is a political action
committee dedicated to electing conservative legislators to
Congress. It is identified strongly with U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
of South Carolina, a Tea Party champion who also endorsed Akin
this week.
(Reporting by Kevin Murphy; Editing by David Bailey and Andrew
Hay)
