Just minutes after Family Research Council President Tony Perkins told reporters and C-SPAN cameras that Rep. Todd Akin would attend the Values Voter Summit this weekend, officials from the FRC and the Akin campaign told TPM that’s actually not the case.
Akin will not be at the Values Voter Summit, the annual social conservative confab that kicks off Friday. His absence spares Mitt Romney’s campaign potential embarrassment and association with Akin. Paul Ryan is scheduled to speak at the gathering on Friday.
Perkins told the National Press Club Wednesday afternoon that Akin would be in attendance.
“He will be there participating in one of our events and speaking at, I believe, our political action committee reception Friday afternoon,” Perkins said.
But the FRC quickly walked back its confirmation of Akin’s appearance.
“Akin was going to speak at the FRC Action PAC reception at VVS but decided to stay in Missouri to speak at in-state events,” FRC spokesperson Darin Miller said. “Tony wasn’t aware of the change — it was a recent change that he hadn’t heard of yet.”
Ryan Hite, spokesperson for the Akin Senate campaign, confirmed to TPM that Akin will not attend.
“There was some discussion about [Akin going],” Hite said. “But I don’t think there’s any plan for him to be there.”
