Politics & Government

Todd Akin: 'No Grudges' After U.S. Senate Defeat

The former U.S. Representative says the Republican Party needs conservatives in it moving forward.

The official ceremony was over, but still plenty of people who wanted to press the flesh with the man in Congress who helped steer a bill through to a conclusion. People who wanted their picture taken to commemorate the day.

For a few minutes, it may have seemed like Todd Akin was back in Congress representing much of West St. Louis County on Friday, after a ceremony dedicating the Ballwin Post Office branch on Manchester Road

At this ceremony, Akin was in the front row of the audience, not on the riser giving remarks. That fell to Ann Wagner, the Ballwin Republican who succeeded Akin when he ran for the U.S. Senate last fall. The general election campaign was marked by Akin's remarks about "legitimate rape", comments which prompted Republicans up and down the ticket to distance themselves from him. A seat that was within the GOP's grasp a few months before fell from the party's grasp when Claire McCaskill was elected to a second term.

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While it is too soon to know if Akin could be readying for some return to public life, he does appear ready to talk about what's happened. He recorded an interview with KSDK last week which is set to air Thursday night kicking off the much-hyped and advertised "May Sweeps" period. He also spoke to Patch about his reflections since his November defeat.

"The temptation is maybe to think 'awww these people, they did something bad and somebody else's fault' and this and that and I think all of us, when something bad happens or we think its bad, we have to get over it. The bible says that we're to be thankful in all circumstances so my lesson in the beginning of this year was to say ok so I lost a Senate race. Well, I'm thankful for that because that means I get to do something else," he said.

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He's written something that he may publish that could help decipher what, if any, kind of future he desires in the political world. He didn't tip his hand as to what it said, but added that he doesn't hold any grudges after losing his first race in 24 years of elective office. He also said the Republican Party needs conservatives in it.

"Life goes on and each day is a new adventure so that's what I'm busy figuring out...what is the new adventure going to be?" he said.Β 


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