Mo. Sen. Cunningham likely to run for Congress

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Republican state Sen. Jane Cunningham says she is likely to run for a suburban St. Louis congressional seat if incumbent Todd Akin enters the U.S. Senate race.

Akin, a Republican who represents Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, has said he is seriously considering a challenge to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and will announce a decision soon.

Cunningham said Wednesday she'll wait to announce any congressional campaign until after Akin declares his candidacy. But Cunningham said she believes she would be perfectly suited to run in the newly redrawn 2nd District, which covers much of St. Louis County and parts of St. Charles and Jefferson counties.

Last year, Cunningham sponsored a successful Missouri ballot measure defying a new federal mandate for people to have health insurance.