"Certainly, [US Representative Todd Akin, R-MO] seems as safe as any Republican can be in an otherwise bleak atmosphere for the GOP," writes Deirdre Shesgreen in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "The 2nd Congressional District includes the high-income, reliably Republican suburbs .... Akin won the seat in 2000, squeaking through a five-way GOP primary by 56 votes and then winning easily in the general election. He has coasted to re-election ever since."

Appearances can be deceiving. Todd Akin's seat isn't nearly as "safe" as it looks.

Over the last three elections, Akin's poll performance has declined from 67.1% to 61.3% ... versus Democratic opponents who each spent less than the $5,000 FEC reporting threshold, and with third party numbers topping out at 2.1%.

Todd Akin has been losing ground versus moneyless Democrats and "paper" third party candidates for six years. So, what does 2008 look like?

Sorry for the extended absence, folks -- I've been busy with national Libertarian Party stuff.

I recently visited Denver as a delegate to our party's national convention, at which we nominated Bob Barr for President of the United States. Congressman Barr's running mate is Las Vegas businessman Wayne Allyn Root. Between now and November, I'll be working hard to earn your vote for our presidential ticket as well as for myself.

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I was too young to be aware of that event at the time it happened, but Dr. King's life and struggle have nonetheless been the measure of my generation's own political journey. He demonstrated the power of non-violent -- but active, firm and unyielding -- resistance to tyranny.

I was privileged to attend a Martin Luther King remembrance ceremony and community unity rally last night at Douglass Memorial Church of God in Christ in Meacham Park. This wasn't a "campaign event" as such for me, although I did introduce myself as a candidate to the wonderful people I met at the rally.

Most people in the St. Louis area will recognize Meacham Park as a troubled neighborhood -- annexed in the early 1990s by neighboring Kirkwood and partially eradicated (using the government's power of eminent domain) for "economic development." Many will remember that earlier this year, a resident of Meacham Park, Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, killed several Kirkwood city officials and was himself killed by police, after some long-festering disputes related to the neighborhood's situation.

What most people won't know, if they weren't at last night's rally or haven't spent time in Meacham Park, is the spirit of healing -- and determination to secure equal justice for themselves and those around them -- that moves in this neighborhood.