Missouri Republicans continue touring the state today to rally voters, days before the election, but without their candidate in one of the key races. Todd Akin is not a part of the “Comeback Team” bus tour.
On the Republican “Comeback Team” tour stop at Jefferson City, the GOP’s candidates (from left to right) for attorney general – Ed Martin, for governor – Dave Spence, for treasurer – Cole McNary and for secretary of state – Shane Schoeller are joined by Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer and state Senator Mike Kehoe.
Executive Director Lloyd Smith urges Republicans to support Akin. “Todd Akin is coming up and going to win the U.S. Senate Race here in Missouri.” A Republican party spokesman said Akin was unable to join the bus tour because of scheduling conflicts.
Many Republicans have distanced themselves from Akin since an August interview, when he said a doctor had told him that a woman’s body can prevent a pregnancy when she is raped. Others in the party have remained supportive, or backed off their criticism.
Several speakers on the bus tour stressed voter turnout. Attorney General Candidate Ed Martin told about 40 supporters gathered in Jefferson City, “Get out and vote. Get your neighbors out and vote. 25 percent of people who say they’re conservatives forget to vote or don’t vote. Get to the polling places.”
Gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence says he’s not worried about turnout, though. “The conservatives throughout the state have been a silent majority. They’re all just saying we’re not doing polls, we’re not doing anything, we’re just going to show up.”
When asked whether his campaign has tried to distance itself from Akin, Spence says, “I don’t think so. We just saw him yesterday down at Branson … or his team down at Branson … we’re crossing paths. He’s running his race and we’re certainly not wishing anybody ill will. We’re all pulling for each other.”
Democrat party spokesman Isaac Wright is following the Republican tour. His party continues to criticize Spence, saying he helped run a bank and voted not to pay back 40 million dollars in federal bailout money. “With only a few days left in the election, with other Republicans surrounding him it seems like now would be the time to explain, yet he failed to do it again.”
The bus tour continues with three stops today:
8:00 AM: St Joseph
featuring Dave Spence, Ed Martin, and Cole McNary
613 Edmond
St. Joseph, MO
11:15 AM: Kirksville
featuring Dave Spence, Shane Schoeller, Ed Martin, and Cole McNary
311 N Elson St.
Kirksville, MO
3:30 PM: St Louis
featuring Ann Wagner, Dave Spence, Shane Schoeller, Ed Martin, and Cole McNary
932AÂ Meramec Station Rd.
Fenton, MO 63088
