While the National Republican Senatorial Committee is insisting they have "no plans" to help Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) in his Senate campaign, other big names in the GOP are coming to the embattled congressman's aid.
According to an invitation obtained by Politico, four Republican Senators will host a fundraiser for Akin in Washington, DC next week. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma will co-host a luncheon in support of Akin on Wednesday. Guests are requested to donate $2,500 to the campaign.
Akin, a six-term congressman, stirred controversy in August when he asserted that women who are victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant because "the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." The comments immediately set off a political firestorm, with many considering Akin's electoral chances to be finished.
However, as HuffPost's Mike McAuliff and John Celock reported, Akin may still emerge victorious over rival Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.):
The latest poll has Akin leading McCaskill by one percentage point.
Akin's easiest route to victory is via a Mitt Romney landslide.
“If Romney, wins by 7 to 8, I gotta think Akin wins,” said former Missouri state Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis), now a professor at the New School in New York.
But even lacking that, Akin has factors working in his favor.
"Missouri is as a state more conservative now, ideologically, than it was six years ago when Claire McCaskill won," said Connor, noting that McCaskill beat Sen. Jim Talent by less than 50,000 votes out of more than 2 million cast.
Graham, Inhofe, DeMint and Coburn aren't the only Republicans coming to Akin's defense as the election nears. On Monday, Newt Gingrich attended a Missouri fundraiser for Akin. Rick Santorum and Rick Perry also pledged their support for Akin earlier this week.