Todd Akin Received National GOP Money Despite Initial Rejection

Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., was the recipient of $760,000 from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during the final week of his failed attempt to unseat incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat. The revelation comes after the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader analyzed newly released Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings made public after November's general election.

* The Missouri GOP spent nearly $700,000 on an advertising blitz across the state to try to get support for Akin. The statewide party didn't reveal at the time where it got the extra money to pay for the ad buys. The influx of cash came too little, too late as McCaskill won 55 percent to 39 percent.

* Around $756,000 was paid by the Missouri GOP to Strategic Media Placement, a firm from Ohio that the candidate used to buy ad time. In FEC filings poured through by the News-Leader, the funding was for "W. Todd Akin" with payments made Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.

* Initially, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told reporters at the Republican National Convention in late August that "he can be tied [in polls and] we're not gonna send him a penny." A month later, Think Progress quoted Priebus again when he said the GOP has "an obligation to make sure we win as many seats in the Senate as possible."

* Matt Canter, communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, emailed a statement to The Hill. Canter called national Republicans "underhanded and dishonest that they would purposely mislead the public about their actions." Canter was referring to the original denial that Akin would get money and then the acceptance of his candidacy a month later.

* The Huffington Post reports many national donors abandoned Akin after he made comments about abortion and "legitimate rape." Even GOP haymaker Karl Rove's super PAC American Crossroads refused to give the candidate any money to help his campaign.

* The money given to the statewide party by the NRSC was part of a $1 million ad buy a week before the election, according to the New York Times. Brian Walsh, chairman of the committee, refused to comment on money donated to Akin before the election and hasn't commented on the disclosures made Thursday.

* Akin's post-politics plans have yet to be revealed. The father of six didn't run for re-election for his own seat when he lost to McCaskill for the Senate. The representative hails from St. Louis.

William Browning is a research librarian specializing in U.S. politics.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/todd-akin-received-national-gop-money-despite-initial-195200645.html

sacha baron cohen ryan seacrest octavia spencer meryl streep oscars school shooting ohio billy crystal oscar winners 2012 billy crystal oscars 2012