This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 1, 2011 - U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood, is in southwest Missouri today as part of a low-key campaign tour around the state tied to his 2012 bid for the U.S. Senate. On Saturday, he will headline a town hall in Fulton, sponsored by mid-Missouri tea party groups.
A spokesman said that Akin is "traveling around the state the next couple days,'' and is expected to be in Springfield on Friday.
Akin is meeting with a variety of groups, his spokesman said, as well as touring some businesses. Back in his 2nd District, he also has conducted some tele-town halls, in which invited constituents can participate in a conference call with the congressman.
But Akin also was the brunt of a protest near his west St. Louis County office a couple weeks ago, as progressive and labor groups complained that he had declined to meet with them. They wanted to talk about his comments disparaging Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- and his vote in favor of a Republican plan to transform Medicare into a voucher program.
Several participants complained Tuesday night to the St. Louis County Council about the large contingent of county police, with cars and vans, who also showed up at the protest. Chief Tim Fitch said that law enforcement had showed up at the request of Akin's staff.
Akin -- an outspoken fiscal and social conservative -- is competing against former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. St. Louis businessman John Brunner also is slated to enter the GOP contest shortly. All are vying to challenge U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
According to social-media sites, Akin's Fulton stop on Saturday is a town hall meeting sponsored by the Patriot Groups of Mid-Missouri. The event begins at 5 p.m. and will be held in the community meeting room at the Callaway Electric Building. The event is billed as free and open to the public.
