claire mccaskill

In the high-profile race for U.S. Senate in Missouri, incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill is seizing on this year’s drought to win support among rural voters. Speaking at the historic Soulard Farmers Market, Senator McCaskill laid in to her opponent in the November election—Republican Congressman Todd Akin—for his opposition the Senate version of the federal farm bill, which includes disaster assistance for farmers reeling from this year’s record drought. Were it not for Republicans like Todd Akin, McCaskill says that relief would be on its way to farmers and ranchers. “I don’t think that Mr. Akin comprehends how big this problem is,” McCaskill said. “He actually said not too long ago that he thought the farm programs were kind of like bailouts.” McCaskill is touring the state this week playing up her work as an advocate for Missouri agriculture. She says Akin’s opposition to the farm bill is typical of Tea Party Republicans who don’t think the government has a role to play in disaster assistance. She says the Senate passed the farm bill with the kind of bipartisan support that Congress just can’t muster. “Because the Tea Party is refusing to allow it to come to the floor for a vote,” McCaskill said. “And one of those people that is blocking this critical relief for our farmers and ranchers right now is Todd Akin.” Akin has said in the past that he opposes the bill’s inclusion of food assistance for low income families and other entitlement programs. In a statement today to St. Louis Public Radio, Akin says that McCaskill's agricultural tour is an election-year ploy, and points out that he has garnered the endorsement of the Missouri Farm Bureau. McCaskill’s seat is one that the GOP feels they have the best chances of recapturing in November. Follow Adam Allington on Twitter: @aallington

Missouri’s two main US Senate hopefuls made pitches Friday to members of the Missouri Farm Bureau in Jefferson City. Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill…

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill says she's "relieved" to not have to face wealthy businessman John Brunner in her fight to keep her Senate seat. But she's still expecting to be outspent in the race against Todd Akin. As of July 18, McCaskill had significantly more money in the bank than Akin, who had to survive a three-way primary. But outside groups poured $15 million into the race even before McCaskill knew who she'd face in the general election. "I worry about the independent ads, but I also trust Missourians to know that if these are ugly, bloated, distorted pictures coming from anonymous, out-of-state sources, they're probably not something you should pay a lot of attention to," she said during a campaign appearance Thursday at a small window shade manufacturer in midtown St. Louis. McCaskill says she'll have the resources to advertise over the next 80 or so days. But she admits that a bigger presence from the Obama campaign would help her conserve her dollars. "All of those offices that we're opening, typically that would be the presidential campaigns that would be opening those offices instead of us," she said. "So that makes it stressful because of the pressure we feel on fundraising." McCaskill says she'd happily campaign with her fellow Democrat, but she's not expecting either side to make many campaign stops in the Show-Me State. Regardless, she said, Missouri residents will hear about the presidential race. For complete election coverage, please go to our website, BeyondNovember.org. Follow Rachel Lippmann on Twitter: @rlippmann

Missouri's Claire McCaskill is one of the most embattled Senate Democrats in the country. Conservative outside groups have been running TV ads against her for months. Tuesday night, Missouri voters in the Republican primary chose Congressman Todd Akin to face McCaskill in the fall.

After U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill voted Tuesday morning in St. Louis, she traveled to Columbia’s Democratic headquarters to call on voters for support in…

Three Missouri Republicans are vying for the chance to take on Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill this November. All three have a strong chance of…

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:Rep. Akin discusses Senate campaign ahead of primaryLivestock farmers seek safety net, while…

Republican congressman Todd Akin stopped off in Columbia Thursday in one of his last campaign rallies ahead of Tuesday's primary election that pits Akin…

A bill making it illegal for U.S. airlines to pay a European tax passed unanimously through the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Tuesday. Missouri Sen.…

Regional news coverage from the KBIA newsroom, including:Gov. Jay Nixon announces $9 million in grants to create "Innovation Campuses"Sen. Claire…