COLUMBIA, MO. -- Update: Friday May 20th at 4:49 p.m.:
Republican Congressman Todd Akin is traveling across the state to announce his candidacy for the United States Senate.
Akin began his tour on Tuesday and made an appearance in Columbia on Friday morning.
Akin said he is the exact opposite of incumbent State Senator Claire McCaskill.
The Surburban St. Louisan, 63, described himself as a consistent conservative.
Akin said, “Claire McCaskill is a true liberal and I’m a true conservative. The two are just different. These are votes both of us take. She goes one way. I go the other way. If we vote the same, one of us made a mistake. That’s really where things are.”
Akin joins former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman as the only republicans officially in next year’s senate race against democrat Claire McCaskill.
St. Louis businessman John Brunner is also considering a senate campaign.
Original Story:
Republican Congressman Todd Akin has thrown his hat into Missouri's U.S. Senate race. Akin calls himself as "the literal, exact opposite" of Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
He announced his candidacy today at a news conference in Creve Coeur. Akin has represented a U.S. House district in suburban St. Louis for the past ten years and also served in the Missouri House.
Former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman is the only other Republican in the race.
Hours after Akin's announcement, former Missouri Republican Party Chairwoman Ann Wagner announced that she will run for Akin's 2nd District seat. Wagner is the second Republican to officially in the race following an announcement last week by St. Louis attorney Ed Martin.
Both Wagner and Martin were present Tuesday for Akin's Senate announcement. Akin declined to endorse a successor, saying: "There's some really, really competent people who are taking a look at that race."
Republican state Sen. Jane Cunningham also has said she is likely to run for Akin's seat.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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