WASHINGTON–Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District isn’t exactly earthy-crunchy-granola territory.

But the House race against incumbent Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country, has attracted no fewer than five Democrats. And strangely enough, it has sparked the interest of liberal author, critic, and provocateur Gore Vidal.

The Missouri race is one of a half dozen where Vidal, whose political lineage stretches to his grandfather (Sen. Thomas Prior Gore, D-Okla.), has made an endorsement; he is backing Byron DeLear, a former Green Party activist and California media producer who moved back to his native state last year to run against Akin.

“Akin seems a very standard politician,” said Gore, who said he favors DeLear because in large part because he’s against the Iraq war.

“I was brought up with a lot of Missouri around me,” Vidal added, when pressed about his interest in the 2nd District contest, which is not on either party’s radars as a particularly hot showdown. Gore noted that his grandfather was close friends with Senator James A. Reed of Missouri.

Hmm. It’s not clear what benefit, if any, Vidal’s involvement will have for DeLear, who ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2006 against Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif. In the Missouri race, there are four other primary contenders: David Pentland, John Hogan, Mike Garman, and Bill Haas.

Then there’s the general election in a strongly Republican district, where Akin has racked up lopsided victories.

DeLear said Akin has cruised to re-election because he’s never faced a well-funded opponent before. “I don’t think [Akin’s re-election] numbers accurately reflect the real dynamics in the district,” said DeLear, who added that he hopes to raise $1 million “to turn this district blue.”

DeLear said Vidal would be helping on that front. But Vidal seemed to differ.

“I hope not,” Vidal said when asked if he was going to raise money for DeLear. “I’m so busy here in California.”