Akin and Steelman. (Photo/KOMC & KRZK)
— Republican U.S. Senate candidates Todd Akin and Sarah Steelman generally found common ground during their second debate this year.
The two said they support capping and balancing the federal budget, eliminating the department of education, and laws against same sex marriage.
But the two contrasted themselves on their opposing positions on earmarks. Akin said he is for the process, which allows lawmakers to appropriate money to specific projects. Akin said it would be “nuts” to ban them entirely and allow the presdient to decide where the money is spent.
Steelman said that was a “Washington excuse,” and pledged to cut the spending if she were elected.
The two united, however, over criticism of the elephant not in the room: Their other challenger, St. Louis businessman John Brunner, who has not yet attended a debate.
Steelman accused him of “basically trying to buy this election” with television ads. Akin, who joked with Steelman that the two should purchase a GPS navigator for Brunner, said “we don’t mind coming out and talking.”
Brunner’s campaign said he will be joining them soon enough. Brunner is scheduled to be on stage at the Missouri Republican Party’s candidate forum in February, two debates in St. Louis in March, one in Springfield in May, and another in St. Joseph hosted by Eagle Communications later this year.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, who the three are hoping to replace, criticized her opponents as “extreme vs. extreme. vs. extreme” in an email to supporters.
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