TAMPA, Fla. - Representative Todd Akin of Missouri, who set off a furor with comments on rape and pregnancy, appeared before a group of conservatives here Thursday, just as Republicans were starting to gather for their party's convention next week.
Mr. Akin's appearance before the group, the Council for National Policy, was an apparent attempt to drum up support among rightward-leaning elements of the party as he faces calls to pull out of the Missouri Senate race.
People who were at the meeting said there were concerns among the group's leadership about the viability of Mr. Akin's candidacy going forward, but noted that there was grass-roots support for his staying in the race.
In an interview Thursday on Mike Huckabee's radio program, Mr. Akin said he was “in this thing to the end.â€
