Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., visited Columbia on Thursday on his campaign trail through the state.
Akin, who spoke at the Boone County GOP Headquarters, said the purpose of the stop was to give updates and answer questions. He spoke about his love for the country and how it’s in poor condition, exemplified by the influx of gas prices and unemployment rate.
Even though he said he believes the nation is in an imperfect state, he does have an optimistic perspective on the situation.
“I believe that we still have great days ahead as long as we remember the center idea that made America so different,” Akin said. “I don’t think we want to forget that. I think we want to remember who we are, stay strong and trust in him.”
Akin then went in depth about how his opponent in the U.S. Senate race for Missouri, incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., calls herself a moderate, but votes with President Barack Obama 98 percent of the time.
He claimed if he filled Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat, he would vote to get rid the Affordable Care Act, which he called “ObamaCare.” After, he talked about his belief about what all Americans have “programmed” inside of them.
“America is pro-life by the way we act,” Akin said. “On Sept. 11, people took the lady in the wheelchair to safety. They didn’t check her I.D. to see if she was important or not. They just took her to safety and other guys are rushing into the building to save peoples’ lives. By their actions and by their heroism, they showed us who we are. We are people who respect life.”
Supporters at the event seemed to agree with Akin’s comments.
“I think he brings a real respect for the sanctity of human life that Claire McCaskill definitely does not have,” attendee Kathy Forck said. “He is just a wonderful man and he’s godly. He loves life and that is like the main thing I look for in a candidate. If they stand for life, I know that all of the other things will fall into place.”
A group of women, carrying signs that supported Planned Parenthood, stood outside the GOP Headquarters during the speech.
“Planned Parenthood is not just a place to get abortions,” said Pat Holt, one of the women. “It’s a place where young women can get their pap smears, their breast exams, contraception and that kind of thing.”
Holt said if voters elected Akin to Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat, the organization would be crushed, women would be at risk due to lack of availability to cancer prevention and would cause more work for hospitals.
Although the women of Planned Parenthood opposed Akin’s campaign, the candidate said he has some new prominent advocates.
“We’ve had (Former Speaker of the House) Newt Gingrich who was in Monday,” Akin said. “(Former U.S. Senator) Rick Santorum is going to be coming into the state for us.”
Both Gingrich and Santorum campaigned for the Republican nomination for president in November’s election.
Akin voiced his confidence in the senatorial race.
“More and more people are starting to say ‘Wait a minute, let’s not forget about Missouri!’” Akin said. “This is a race that is going to count and I have every belief that we will beat Claire McCaskill.”
