Show Me Primaries: Todd Akin Wins Missouri Republican US Senate Primary and Will Face Vulnerable Democrat McCaskill

Congressman Todd Akin wins the GOP primary  in Missouri over his Republican rivals John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman. Akin ultimately won the hard fought match up over Brunner and Steelman, 36.0%, 30.0% and 29.2%, respectively. Once again the Tea Party has flexed it’s muscle as they send yet another Tea Party backed candidate into the general election in 2012.

Congressman Todd Akin has won a hard-fought Republican primary for the right to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Akin on Tuesday topped businessman John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in a primary in which all three leading candidates portrayed themselves as the top conservative choice.

McCaskill was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Claire McCaskill is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent Democrats and a must win by the GOP if the Republicans hope to take back the US Senate in 2012. In a recent Rasmussen poll, Akin lead McCaskill, 47% to 44%.