FLORISSANT, MO–(KMOX)–Republican Congressman Todd Akin is predicting that “voter enthusiasm” will carry him to victory Tuesday over Democratic incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill.

During a stopover here with some 50 supporters, Akin dismissed polls showing the race is too close to call.

“A lot of this is intuitive,” Akin said, “The best poll that I paid money for had me down by two points in the primary. We won by six.”

Akin was asked about the full-page newspaper ads Larry Flint is running, offering a million dollars to Akin if he can prove his infamous statement of August 19, which he has since disavowed, that “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

“So, Larry Flint,” Akin said, “the guy who made his money exploiting women with pornography is putting a million dollars on the line. So, he’s basically the spokesman for the Democrat party when it comes to women’s issues? I think that’s amazing.”

Talking strategy, Akin says in order for him to win, he would need substantial voter turnout in the Republican stronghold of southwest Missouri, to offset McCaskill votes in the Democratic strongholds of Kansas City and St. Louis.

McCaskill, meanwhile, was making a foray into southwest Missouri today with a stop planned in Springfield. She was also scheduled to meet with supporters in Columbia, Kansas City and Bridgeton. KMOX will have a reporter on hand at 6:45 when McCaskill arrives in Bridgeton.

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