Politics

Election 2012

KBIA's coverage of all the elections going on in mid-Missouri and the nation for 2012.

Mo. Farm Bureau reconsidering Akin endorsement

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published August 31, 2012 at 11:04 AM CDT

Missouri Farm Bureau members are reconsidering their endorsement of Republican Todd Akin for U.S. Senate

The Bureau’s FARM-PAC met earlier this month and endorsed Akin after hearing presentations from both he and Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. Chris Fennewald, an editor for Missouri Farm Bureau publications, says the Bureau’s county leaders were polled this week, and the majority said that their endorsement of Akin should be reconsidered.

Akin has come under fire for saying that a woman’s body can shut down and prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape.” Akin has since apologized for the comment. He has refused calls from numerous GOP leaders to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race.

Fennewald says FARM-PAC chairmen are working on setting up a process for officially reconsidering their endorsement of Akin.

“No details have been finalized on this process,” Fennewald said. “This is something new for us – I don’t think it’s ever been done before, so we’re gonna take it deliberately and make sure we do it the right way.”

If Akin’s endorsement is vacated, Fennewald says it would be up to FARM-PAC to decide if they would endorse someone else for U.S. Senate or make no endorsement. Officials with the Akin campaign have so far not responded to requests for a comment.

Rove comments spark an Akin response

Meantime, another controversy involving Akin and a prominent Republican has developed. Bloomberg Businessweek's website reported Friday that GOP activist Karl Rove made this comment at a Republican donors' breakfast in Tampa: "We should sink Todd Akin. If he's found mysteriously murdered, don't look for my whereabouts!"

Rep. Akin's office reacted angrily to the quote, saying it is deeply disturbing given that the FBI has been investigating threats against Akin since his rape comments.

Read Jo Mannies story about the Rove comments in the St. Louis Beacon here.

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.