Senate candidate Todd Akin laid the tracks Thursday to his campaign in St Joseph.

Akin, who calls himself the exact opposite of Claire McCaskill, announced his campaign just two days before visiting St Joseph and Kansas City.  He made stops in other parts of the state Wednesday.

Just one day into his campaign, his opponent in the Republican Primary, Former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, called Akin and other U.S. house Republicans “Toothless dragons.”  House republicans did not cut enough spending recently, according to Steelman.

Akin responded Thursday by challenging her to a debate.

“A lot of people like to take different little shots in politics and maybe one of the things to do just to get to the bottom of it; you want to talk about different issues? Let’s just have a debate,” Akin said.

Akin is self-descried as a conservative who believes in limited government.

“I’ve taken the tough votes, regardless of what the political pressures were, to stay on a tract that I believe is limited government,” Akin said.

During the press conference, he was able to keep good composure even after his banner fell from behind him.  Watch for more.