New poll: Akin leads McCaskill as campaign gets nastier
Yael T. AbouhalkahThe new poll out Monday showing that Todd Akin is leading Claire McCaskill in their U.S. Senate race comes at a pivotal time.
And it better be a renewed wake-up call to all the Missouri Democrats and McCaskill supporters who might think she’s going to walk to victory over Akin because of his asinine comments on abortion.
The poll, by Republican-leaning Wenzel Strategies, shows a 49 percent to 45 percent lead for Akin. That’s up just a bit from the 45-42 lead Wenzel had for Akin in late August.
In other words, Akin isn’t losing support despite weeks of negative attack ads on him by McCaskill and her forces.
The Akin camp thinks it’s getting a bounce from the revelations last week that McCaskill’s husband benefited from his investments in federally subsidized housing.
The poll development Monday came as the McCaskill-Akin race continues to receive national attention, given Akin’s reprehensible comments about “legitimate rape” in August and the potential for the Missouri race to tip the U.S. Senate into GOP control.
However, the news is far from all bad for McCaskill, who clearly is the better candidate for Missouri’s future in this race.
McCaskill has a lead of several points in other polls, and her average lead in the latest Real Clear Politics post tops 2 percent.
Plus, McCaskill likely will benefit from her ads, which show a few pro-life women talking about the need for women to fight back against Akin’s views on contraception.
Jean Mcmahon
7 months, 1 week agoA vote for Akin is a vote for Corporate Rule (they rule the govt)..If you like Monsanto chemicals you love Corporate rule..If you want Exxon and Shell choosing Oil wars,you will vote for Atkin.If you want 4 big Banks contolling our money,vote for Arkin
Jean Mcmahon
7 months, 1 week agoIf you love Corporate rule vote for Atkin..If you want Monsanto Genitically modified crops to eat every day..Vote for Atkin…War for Shell oil/Exxon Mobile …IF you want 4 massive banks controlling our money vote for Atkin…do not forget too big to fail almost crashed the entire economy….As the World Burns…What IS the Matter with Kansas???
Mark Allen Brownlee
7 months, 1 week agoNote to Jean McMahon:
It’s the US Senate Seat for MISSOURI!! (not Kansas.) It’s Akin, not Atkins. If you don’t like gas companies making money, DON’T BUY THE VERY PRODUCT THEY PRODUCE! (gasoline) Genetically modified crops have been proven to be pretty much the same as organically grown crops. The same genetic modifications that are artificially introduced ALSO HAPPEN NATURALLY! albeit in an uncontrolled and random way.
Stephen Platt
7 months, 1 week agoThis election is not about legitimate rape unless the fleccing of the American taxpayer qualfies. I voted for McCaskill 6 years ago and now regret my choice. She is not a moderate. McCaskill’s quotes in the fiscal cliff article yesterday were amazing. It noted the Senate opted against tax reform legislation when there was a super majority in 2009 and 2010. Now she blames the Tea Party for the fiscal cliff because they won’t compromise. She also said she voted for the latest Senate tax plan but said she didn’t like the 55% tax on estates. You can’t have it both ways Claire. My vote is for Akin is one against Harry Reid and Claire McCaskill.
Steven Fetter
66223
7 months, 1 week agoClaire, and her party, controlled the entire government in 2009-2011.
They did not allow corporations to fail. The bank bailout and auto bailout were passed by Claire and the Dems.
Wars were surged, Libya (major oil producer) was bombed, and Exxon/Shell and all other oil producers made record profits as gasoline doubled in price under the D’s watch.
If those issues are indeed dear to you, do not vote for Claire.
Bud Neptune
7 months, 1 week agoYael, why don’t your report the news NOT make the news. Keep your opinions to Rukus! Todd Akin is going to win this race (not because of media support) because fair-minded Missourians are tired of “the media and upper crust Republicans telling us how to vote! Todd Akin received a A from the National Rifle Association - Claire got an F. Check the hunting license permit sales in Missouri and the number of metropolian citizens who own guns or want to own guns. Kansas City a few years ago had all the crime and violence in the downtown area. Because of drugs and the poor economy the crime rate has spread south across the areas that never had problems before. People are concerned about their safety!
Also MOST Missourians are PROLIFE not prochoice. Your article said Claire was going to run ProLife ads against Claire? I wish you were right! An earlier article by the Star showed a few protesters in from of an Akin rally and your reported didn’t cover ANYTHING that Todd Akin said. Only gripped about the “abortion issue”. Enjoy your comments on Rukcus but lets be fair in the Kansas City Star and just report the unbiased facts and issuses.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoair claire: porkulus=YES, 0’care=YES, debt ceiling expansions=YES, Supreme Court Justices=YES, giving government money to husband’s companies=YES, supporting MO values=NO.
Vote for air claire=NO!!
Phil Cardarella
7 months, 1 week ago“Claire, and her party, controlled the entire government in 2009-2011.”
Actually, the Dems only controled both Houses of Congress for less than six months — from the time that Al Franken was finally seated (after a long, bogus “recount” controversy) and the death of Ted Kennedy (or the last time he could be in the chambers) and then briefly before the Brown election. That is because — unlike the Dems — the GOP senators filibustered EVERYTHING so 60 votes were needed on anything.
And — unlike the GOP — the Democrats actually have policy disagreements that needed to be worked out. It is harder for independent thinkers to agree than for the guys who all get their marching orders from FOX in the morning and urinate themselves if Rush speaks harshly of them.
Oh, and the “too big to fail” initial bailouts were a BUSH program. DUH! Obama definitely deserves credit for the auto bailout that SAVED millions of jobs and a basic American industry.
To quote the guy who is “entitled” to hide his tax returns, stuff money in foreign accounts to avoid taxes and pay taxes at a rate half of mine or yours… you are not entitled to your own facts.
Steven Fetter
66223
7 months, 1 week ago@ Phil: I was responding to Ms. Mcmahon and her points on why not to vote for “Atkin” for Senator in “Kansas”. I offered no comment on the good or bad of her issues, namely, corporation rule governments, oil companies choosing oil wars. Just trying to make sure she is informed.
My facts look OK to me: The Dems controlled the house, Senate, and Presidency for 2 years.
The Dems passed,and Claire voted for, the auto bailout and bank bailouts. Bush was defiantly for it. So was Obama.
We surged in Afghanistan and bombed in Libya without consulting Exxon (or the Congress).
I cannot figure out how the various parties come down on Monsanto genetics (are other companies genetically modified crops OK?).
Richard Heckler
7 months, 1 week agoThe repub party declared the day Obama was elected their primary function would be to make Obama a one term president.
Consequently their millions of NO votes became the disastrous campaign against women,The USA and jobs for Americans.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/09/did-republicans-deliberately-crash-us-economy
Richard Heckler
7 months, 1 week agoBRING ON EMPLOYMENT = THE GREATEST REPUBLICAN FEAR ON EARTH!!!
Repubs fear a dramatically improved quality of life for all WOULD keep them out of control for decades….. we would hope.
Keep in mind a prospering america can overcome repub fear mongering… it must.
What is the repub party afraid? Why do they ALWAYS say no?
What do Repubs fear?
– Fear a dramatically improved quality of life for all americans
– Fear Jobs Jobs Jobs for americans
– Fear New USA industry thus new wealth for america
– Fear new cleaner energy sources because it would create so many new jobs and reduce rates across the board
– Fear Medicare Single Payer Insurance = huge tax dollar savings to government,public schools,small business and all of us in general. Single Payer Medicare is the answer. -http://www.healthcare-now.org/ -http://www.pnhp.org
– Fear Clean Collar Industries which produce jobs that cannot be outsourced
– Fear educated Americans because WE ask questions
Richard Heckler
7 months, 1 week ago– Face it neither WOMEN nor Republicans nor Democrats nor the Upper Middle Class/Middle class can afford the Republican/RINO Party!
– Women will be getting more republican big government in there lives? It is on the way! http://www.kansascity.com/2012/10/05/3849961/joel-brinkley-gop-would-impose.html
– Bear in mind Public Education is a strong player in new Economic Growth yet republicans starve the system of funding which starves our teachers of resources. Which starves the desired level of education = stealing from our children’s future.
– Killing an educational institution such as Sesame Street and PBS is reckless and irresponsible. Yes republicans are out of touch going on 32 years.
– Ask yourself is the market value of your home worth less than your mortgage? How much market value have home owners lost since 2007? Trillions of $$$$.
These are the republican economic policies or apparent entitlements that literally destroyed jobs,economies,retirement plans. And made owning a home a risky investment - now that is remarkable. AND are hell on shopping opportunities.
– This ENTITLEMENT - Bailing out The Reagan/Bush Savings and Loan Heist aka home loan scandal sent the economy out the window costing taxpayers many many $$ trillions (Cost taxpayers $1.4 trillion), Plus millions of jobs, loss of retirement plans and loss of medical insurance. http://rationalrevolution0.tripod.com/war/bushfamilyandthes.htm[
– This ENTITLEMENT Bailing out the Bush/Cheney Home Loan Wall Street Bank Fraud cost consumers $ trillions, millions of jobs, loss of retirement plans and loss of medical insurance. Exactly like the Reagan/Bush home loan scam. Déjà vu can we say. Yep seems to be a pattern. http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0709macewan.html
– This ENTITLEMENT - Bush/Cheney implied many financial institutions were at risk instead of only 3? One of the biggest lies perpetrated to American citizens. Where did this money go? Why were some banks forced to take bail out money? http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/10/goodbillionsafterbadone_year
The fewer republicans the more our properties will become worth and the more likely USA jobs will be reinvigorated.
Where did the real republican party go?
Mike Snyder
7 months, 1 week agoWait a second, Yael, this wouldn’t receive a passing grade in journalism 101. The headline informs readers Akin is ahead, but the claim is immediately doubtful because you question the integrity of the “Republican-leaning” poll… and then let the matter drop. That’s the only poll you are aware of? You give readers pointless opinion with no supporting evidence. Advice: more facts and fewer asinine, reprehensible adjectives.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoWhat thinking women are doing at the national level…
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/15/swing-states-poll-women-voters-romney-obama/1634791/
Women increasingly realize that with the big 0 and “my best friend in the Senate Air Claire” they face only another 4 years of dispair and declinging living standards for themselves and their families. R&R give them the “opportunity” for a better future.
Shannon Elaine Sperry
7 months, 1 week agoI remember being so proud of Claire and supporting her during her early days as Auditor and Representative. Not so much anymore.
She is corrupt at every level now and has not given a thought to the wishes and needs of her constituents for a long time now.
I (and many others) will never forgive her for what she did to our beloved KCIR either.
I won’t be voting for Akin, I’ll be voting AGAINST Claire McCaskill.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoYou join a lot of us Shannon…. Akin is clearly not the best candidate we had, think Steelman, but he is WORLDS better then air claire….
Kevin Sheely
7 months, 1 week agoWhat did you like about Steelman? I saw her several times in person and several times on TV/radio, I wanted to like her, she looked good on paper and all…but she is flat-out terrible at public speaking. She never expressed a single original thought, just a bunch of jumbled talking points poorly delivered. She looked and sounded like a total amateur. There’s a reason she couldn’t even manage second place, she’s weak. McCaskill would have beat her easily. I voted for Akin in the primary, a decision I now regret. Hindsight I wish I had supported Brunner.
These polls are garbage. Akin will lose, and lose big. The Democrats were right all along. He is a kook.
George Hunsucker
Northland
7 months, 1 week agoWe shall see Kevin… I liked Steelman because she is a commonsense conservative… And the fact she is the opposite of air claire….