Family Research Council President Tony Perkins confirmed that Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) met this week behind closed doors with a group of conservatives and evangelical leaders to “encourage him and the stand that he’s taking.”
“Obviously, you know, it was a Biden-ism that he made. It was inexcusable. It was inappropriate. He has acknowledged it as such. And he’s moving on,” Perkins said on MSNBC. “Now there are some in the Republican Party that want him to get out. He has made his decision that he’s going to stay in. You know, and from my perspective, as I, our organization endorsed him in the primary, we endorsed him based upon the totality of his record.”
Perkins he doesn’t “necessarily” see wavering from Akin on his decision to stay in the race. Akin could withdraw by Sept. 25 via court intervention.
“I mean, anything’s possible, but he seems to be pretty steadfast in his decision that he’s going to stay in this race and run. Now there’s not unanimous support, obviously, as you’ve seen much of the national Republican establishment have called for him to get out,” he said. “Others are weighing the realities here of whether or not he can be successful. But many people thought, you know, wondered whether or not he could be successful in the primary. He was. I think he still has a chance to be successful in the general election as well.”
Still, the FRC leader didn’t come down too hard on those calling for Akin to get out, saying “reasonable people can disagree.”
“And, again, I totally have rejected what he said as being inappropriate and inartful and he should have never said it,” Perkins said. “I don’t know why he was having that discussion.”
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