This is a non-partisan comparison of the policies and political positions of Claire McCaskill (Democrat) and Todd Akin (Republican), candidates for U.S. Senate from Missouri.
Result: McCaskill defeated Todd Akin to win the election.
Comparison chart
 | Claire McCaskill | Todd Akin |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Political Party | Democrat | Republican |
| Date of birth | July 24, 1953 | July 5, 1947 |
| Budget | Supports spending caps | Supports spending cuts and |
| Taxes | Policy Extended tax cuts for small businesses and US workers. Increase tax rates for those earning over $1 million. | Make Bush tax cuts permanent; cut corporate taxes. |
| Social Security | Supports | Wants to privatize social security |
| Healthcare | Aims to expand health insurance coverage to all Missourians. | Opposes the "Obamacare" legislation. |
| Medicare | Opposes changes to Medicare | Supports Paul Ryan's plan for converting Medicare into a voucher-based program. |
| Abortion | Supports Roe v. Wade | Opposes Roe v. Wade and wants to abolish access to abortion with some exceptions. |
| Gay Rights | Opposes gay marriage | Opposes gay marriage |
| Immigration | Supports crackdown on hiring of illegal immigrants. | Supports crackdown on hiring of illegal immigrants. |
| Education | Supports additional federal funding for schools. On student loans, McCaskill has said she supports the federal government "cutting out the middleman" and lending directly to students instead of guaranteeing loans made by banks. | Supports more state control for school funds (for example lunches). Opposes the federal government making student loans directly. |
| Women’s Rights | Supports Planned Parenthood, free contraception and health screenings. | Wants to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Opposes contraceptives being covered. Landed in hot water with "legitimate rape" comment. |
| Gun Control | Opposes | Opposes |
| Religion | Roman Catholic | Presbyterianism |
| Years of service | N/A | 1972–1980 (United States Army Corps of Engineers) |
Akin vs. McCaskill in Opinion Polls
Akin was leading McCaskill in opinion polls until the "legitimate rape" controversy erupted over his remarks that victims of "legitimate rape" rarely became pregnant.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Claire McCaskill (D) | Todd Akin (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | October 3, 2012 | 51% | 45% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 1-3, 2012 | 46% | 40% |
| Kiley & Company | September 30, 2012 | 50% | 41% |
| Wenzel Strategies | September 10-11, 2012 | 43% | 48% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 11, 2012 | 49% | 43% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 28-29, 2012 | 45% | 44% |
| Wenzel Strategies | August 27-28, 2012 | 42% | 45% |
| Mason-Dixon | August 22-23, 2012 | 50% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 22, 2012 | 48% | 38% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 20, 2012 | 43% | 44% |
| Survey USA | August 9-12, 2012 | 40% | 51% |
| Chilenski Strategies/Missouri Scout | August 8, 2012 | 47% | 48% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 30, 2012 | 44% | 47% |
| Mason-Dixon | July 23-25, 2012 | 44% | 49% |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 7, 2012 | 42% | 50% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 24-27, 2012 | 44% | 45% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 17, 2012 | 43% | 48% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 14-15, 2012 | 43% | 50% |
| Public Policy Polling | January 27-29, 2012 | 43% | 43% |
Dave Spence 
Democrat 
Mitt Romney 
Obamacare 
Conservative 
Debbie Stabenow
Comments: Claire McCaskill vs Todd Akin