Democrats say Akin's comments could put Missouri in play

NEWS: As Democrats wrapped up their nominating convention in Charlotte last week, Missouri delegates were abuzz about President Barack Obama's rousing acceptance speech and former President Bill Clinton's detailed deconstruction of the GOP's case against him.

But what had some Missouri Democrats really ginned up was the possibility the Show-Me State could reclaim its status as an election bellwether. Specifically, how much have Rep. Todd Akin's controversial comments about "legitimate rape" and abortion changed the political landscape in Missouri?

Akin said in an interview last month that victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant because "the female has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Some delegates at last week's Democratic convention said Akin's remarks not only may have shifted the Senate race in favor of Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, they may offer Obama a chance to make an aggressive play for Missouri. So far, Obama has largely ceded the increasingly Republican state to challenger Mitt Romney.

"I do think the president's going to get a bump" from the convention, said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. "And I think that that can translate into them rethinking Missouri."

Slay said he and other Democrats "are certainly going to make an effort" to persuade the Obama campaign to invest energy and resources in Missouri.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said Obama could win the state in November, noting the president lost there by only about 3,900 votes in 2008 against GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona. But Nixon said he isn't planning to lobby the Obama campaign to send more people or money to Missouri.

"I'm not here to tell the president or his folks how to run their race," he said.

A recent Rasmussen survey showed Obama's support in Missouri at 47% compared to 46% for Romney.

"As the controversy over Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin's 'legitimate rape' comment continues, Mitt Romney's lead in Missouri has vanished," Rasmussen concluded.

Republicans flatly dismissed the notion Missouri will turn purple because of Akin's remarks. As Democrats wrapped up their convention, former Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond and other GOP leaders organized a conference call with reporters to rebut the pitch coming out of Charlotte.

"I have a very high confidence level … that Missouri is very solidly in the Romney corner," said state Auditor Tom Schweich.

John Hancock, a Republican consultant and former state GOP party chairman, said he would not be surprised to see Obama move staff and money to Missouri, but only because his prospects in other swing states will start to dim.

"It would be an incredibly steep hill for Obama to carry Missouri, but it may be the best of a series of bad options for him," Hancock said. "His support in other states he carried in 2008 is eroding. Look at North Carolina and Virginia."

Michael Sanders, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, said the state is now more in play than anyone would have predicted six months ago.

"That's a testament to the candidates we have," he said. "But it's also a testament to the Republican candidates. They don't track with mainstream common-sense Missouri values."

But he and other Democrats openly worried McCaskill could still lose. Several convention delegates said they believe Republicans will still vote for Akin, even if his comments made them cringe, because he has an "R'' behind his name on the November ballot.

"I do phone banking and you would be amazed at the number of people who say 'Yeah, but I'm still going to vote for him'," said Sharon Aring, a 71-year-old delegate from Platte City. She was wearing a leopard-patterned sweater with ten political buttons, including one that read, "The GOP is Akin."

Kansas City Mayor Sly James, a Democrat, agreed Akin's comments "changed the landscape some," but said McCaskill still faces "a very tight race." And he doesn't anticipate a big shift in the presidential matchup.

Even if Obama wanted to make a play for Missouri, his campaign probably won't have the resources to invest in such a marginal state, James said. He noted that Obama is on track to be heavily outspent by Romney and conservative super PACs.

"Ramping up (in Missouri) at this stage would be a huge drain on resources," James said. "He's going to need to reinforce his message elsewhere. I think the president's campaign is really focused on the states they've mapped out, and they're pretty good about sticking to their strategy."