The Slatest

Todd Akin Gets a Helping Hand From Senators

Rep. Todd Akin addresses the media in Kirkwood, Missouri

Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images

Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin may have been abandoned by much of the GOP machinery after his “legitimate rape” comments, but he’ll be getting some fundraising help from four U.S. Senators next week. Politico got its hands on an invitation for a reception for Akin in Washington that will take place Wednesday and has a requested donation of $2,500.

The “honorary hosts” of the reception are Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and James Inhofe and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Although DeMint’s support was largely expected, the fact that the other three senators are publicly supporting the candidate comes as somewhat of a surprise, points out Politico.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a statement expressing support for Akin’s Senate campaign, but Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee said he wasn’t planning on putting any money into the race.

“I just think that this is not a winnable race,” Cornyn told the Louisville Courier-Journal earlier in the week.

When the final deadline for Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race passed Tuesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill quickly put out an attack ad, zeroing in on the “legitimate rape” comments.