A sign Rep. Todd Akin’s (R) fight-the-establishment strategy in the Missouri Senate race is paying off. Though he’s still the underdog in the race against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in both polling and fundraising, Akin’s campaign reports he’s seen a big outpouring of support in the weeks since the establishment GOP largely abandoned him after his “legitmate rape” comments.
Top Akin adviser Rick Tyler tells TPM Akin raised more than $1 million after the NRSC, RNC and Crossroads super PAC pulled out of Missouri and left Akin to largely fend for himself. The average donation was less $100, Tyler said.
Akin still enjoys national backing from social conservatives as well as some big names on the conservative end of national Republican spectrum. On Monday, the NRA became the latest national group to support his campaign. There are signs that more establishment Republicans might come back as well, lending Akin much-needed financial support if the polls tighten.
