Republican U.S. Congressman Todd Akin is quitting his senate race, according to multiple GOP politicos, including CNN’s Erick Erickson, and Richard Grenell, Mitt Romney’s former foreign policy spokesperson.
"Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell
Breaking: Senior GOP official: Akin advisors making preparations for a withdrawal tomorrow."
"Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell
Senior MO GOP officials have asked Akin to step aside. So far, he is resisting."
"Patrick Ruffini @PatrickRuffini
RT @EWErickson: Todd Akin will withdraw from the MO Senate race."
Akin over the weekend made infamous remarks stating a rape victim’s body can automatically avoid becoming pregnant if her rape is “legitimate.”
Akin may have made the decision after the NRSC chair issued a strongly-worded statement suggesting Akin withdraw, and Karl Rove pulled all his Crossroads GPS funding from Akin.
Akin is running against Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, and up until Sunday was beating her by about eight percentage points.
And Buzzfeed notes:
“Akin is taking concrete steps to withdraw by tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.,” a senior Republican told BuzzFeed, adding that Akin could still change his mind.
Tomorrow afternoon is an important deadline: If he files papers to end his candidacy in Jefferson City tomorrow he can end his candidacy unilaterally; after that, he would have to file an application in court.
Possible Republican replacements, the source said, include three former senators: John Ashcroft, Jim Talent, and Kit Bond. Other names being mentioned include former Ambassador Ann Wagner, who is running for Akin’s now-vacant seat; and Auditor Tom Schweich.
This is a developing story — no word on whether Akin will resign his House seat.
Source.
"Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell
Breaking: Senior GOP official: Akin advisors making preparations for a withdrawal tomorrow."
"Richard Grenell @RichardGrenell
Senior MO GOP officials have asked Akin to step aside. So far, he is resisting."
"Patrick Ruffini @PatrickRuffini
RT @EWErickson: Todd Akin will withdraw from the MO Senate race."
Akin over the weekend made infamous remarks stating a rape victim’s body can automatically avoid becoming pregnant if her rape is “legitimate.”
Akin may have made the decision after the NRSC chair issued a strongly-worded statement suggesting Akin withdraw, and Karl Rove pulled all his Crossroads GPS funding from Akin.
Akin is running against Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, and up until Sunday was beating her by about eight percentage points.
And Buzzfeed notes:
“Akin is taking concrete steps to withdraw by tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.,” a senior Republican told BuzzFeed, adding that Akin could still change his mind.
Tomorrow afternoon is an important deadline: If he files papers to end his candidacy in Jefferson City tomorrow he can end his candidacy unilaterally; after that, he would have to file an application in court.
Possible Republican replacements, the source said, include three former senators: John Ashcroft, Jim Talent, and Kit Bond. Other names being mentioned include former Ambassador Ann Wagner, who is running for Akin’s now-vacant seat; and Auditor Tom Schweich.
This is a developing story — no word on whether Akin will resign his House seat.
Source.
Does him running for Senate mean that he will be giving up his position in the House because he isn't running for re-election? I mean, obv. I hope he resigns his House position too, but I don't know if Republican outrage is gonna go so far as to call for him to resign that too.
Hahaha, loser
Ew Ew Ew Ew Ew double Ew
Right now my Twitter feed is making fun of Akin for not showing up on Piers Morgan's show.
For one, I was hoping that Akin would stay in. When they replace him with someone like John Ashcroft, Jim Talent, and Kit Bond, People will vote their party lines like the were before an d McCaskill may be back on the losing side again.
Akins screw up was a HUGE bolster for Claire. :(
8/20/2012 5:56pm
What else can he say between now and election time? Especially if the GOP isn't funding him anymore and may not have as much of a leash on him. If they ever had one.
Anyone know of any more recent polls as to whether he's lost his lead?
I am in this race to win. We need a conservative Senate. Help me defeat Claire by donating
https://twitter.com/ToddAkin/status/237
Also read that Talent has denied he's going to run, but that could be hot air. I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP forces Akin out by tomorrow.
I hope he stays in, because Sen McCaskill will probably win in that case.
Edited at 2012-08-21 06:11 pm (UTC)
In any case, I'm glad he's out of the race and I hope he's out of the House soon.
75% of Missouri voters think Akin's comments were inappropriate, but they're still voting along party lines
Only 6% of Republican women say they're going to vote for McCaskill
The Missouri thing just speaks to hyper partisanship- Republicans don't even really like Akin but they'll vote for him over McCaskill
https://twitter.com/ppppolls
If Akin's internal numbers match Public Policy Polling's, no wonder he has so far refused to step down.
That said, I don't know which is more likely to get Claire McCaskill the seat, him staying or him resigning.
I want him gone, but I want her to stay and I'm not picky about whether he goes now or in November. And given how hard the Republicans are pushing him to drop it, it sounds like they think he's an albatross; it may be that whoever they replace him with would have a better chance to win; there's close to three months to campaign yet. Especially if they refuse to support him for real if he stays put (if they support and fund him after threatening to not, we can accuse them of only pretending to care about rape victims and making promises to gain people's support only to break them once the heat dies down).
I suppose we'll have to see.
(I need a Philosaraptor icon.)
Think I will tweet at him all day tomorrow as well. I've got unlimited data on my phone-might as well.