McCaskill visits Kansas City with big lead over challenger Akin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Friday, the first face that shows up as you log onto Senator Claire McCaskill's website is Representative Todd Akin. The pop-up reminds voters about what Akin called 'legitimate rape' and then asks for a donation for the McCaskill campaign.

She told reporters on Friday she refuses to play into the game of politics in the wake of Akin’s comments. But when questioned about her using the representative’s flub as a money-maker, she admitted it’s necessary.

“This is the system I’m saddled with. I have to raise as much money as I can to keep up with an unprecedented flow of outside money into Missouri, and we don't even know where it's coming from," McCaskill said.

The focus of her stop at a VFW on 45 Highway near Parkville wasn’t fundraising. McCaskill stopped to listen as part of a state-wide tour focused on veterans. Six men showed up.

Their questions ranged from VA services, to Agent Orange, to Arlington Cemetery headstones and Todd Akin.

“They are going to vote again the first Tuesday in November and when they do, I want to make sure they know the difference between Claire McCaskill and Todd Akin,” she explained.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday showed McCaskill up ten points ahead of Akin. The phone survey in Missouri showed McCaskill earning 48 percent of the support.

In comparison, her republican opponent earned 38 percent. The bump for McCaskill came on the heels of Akin’s comments on "legitimate rape."

McCaskill dismisses the polls as unneeded speculation.

“I think, frankly, all this speculation doesn't do much for Missourians. What I want to do is focus on Missourians right now and their pain and what they need," she reiterated.

Akin sang a similar tune in St. Louis when he held a press conference to, yet again, tell the public he is not dropping out of the race.

“I believe that maybe America's gotten into trouble because we play too much attention to politics and not enough attention to principle," Akin explained.

He told reporters nothing could change his mind. Missouri voters chose him and that’s why he’s defied all calls to step down.

“That was an election and I was the nominee," he said.