Todd Akin’s campaign continues to undergo one of the fastest implosions on record. Not only is Mitt Romney pushing him toward the door, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said it will yank financial support for his Senate bid, CNN reports:
The National Republican Senatorial Committee will no longer support Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri in his U.S. Senate bid, a source from the group told CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash on Monday.
It was communicated to the congressman that the NRSC will be pulling out if he decides to stay in the race, the source said one day after the Senate candidate sparked a firestorm by claiming that “legitimate rape” rarely resulted in pregnancy.
Akin sounded defiant on the Mike Huckabee show earlier today, saying that he had no plans to step aside. At this point, it doesn’t look like that’s possible anymore. Republican senators are calling on him to drop out, and without NRSC funding, Akin has no chance of fighting off the attacks Democrats will rightfully hit him with. GOP advisors say he’s already making preparations to exit the race, according to Richard Grenell.
What would be the point of staying in the race at this point, unless he’s actively seeking to damage the Republican Party? Akin has basically no chance of winning, few defenders in the conservative media, and zero support from his national committee. In that climate, bowing out and preventing further embarrassment for himself should seem pretty appealing.
Just now heard Akin on Hannity's radio show and he said he is in the race to stay. I hope he changes his mind, and there is even greater pressure on him to drop out as the day progresses. For the sake of his family, he should drop out. He has no idea the amount of crap about to be dumped on his head, and it will hurt his family. He can prevent that.
This is total madness. The so-called level headed Republicans are once again throwing their champions to the wolves. These left-wing monsters will not be satisfied. Today it is Todd Akin—and tomorrow another victim will be chosen to be sacrificed.
I see that you have reassessed your view on Akin's need to withdraw from the race, so we agree on that. But one of your original arguments is intriguing – that, as you put it here, "these left-wing monsters will not be satisfied." In an earlier comment you argued that Republicans calling for Akin's withdrawal were showing fear of the left-wing feminist crazies, or something along those lines. nThese are valid concerns, and you are undoubtedly correct in your assessment of the monsters' appetites, but I would suggest that we make it easier to combat such ideological lunatics when we demonstrate that we, in fact, have standards. (So Akin wasn't sacrificed, but fell afoul of certain standards.) And your reminder that conservatives sometimes prematurely cave in to PC pressures is worthy. nIn this case, I suspect that beyond the left-wing echo chamber, Republican refusal to play ball with this guy will be favorably noticed. (Within the echo chamber will be disappointment.) The Democrats went full bore after him, tying him to Ryan and Romney immediately, and then, poof – the Republicans left the party, so to speak, leaving the grinning Donkeys looking foolish. In and of itself this incident will probably play no role outside of this particular race in Missouri, but in the bigger picture it may contribute to a healthier and more accurate re-imaging of the Republicans.
Scott Akin's original remarks were fairly accurate. Many people are unfairly nit-picking him. Still, he does not have the ability to explain himself. I now understand why the Democrats hoped he would win the GOP nomination. Akin continues to make the situation worse. He must resign. Is it fair? Did I ever say the world was fair? If so, I lied to you!
Um, sorry, it was a bizarre statement. Not wrong, not hateful, just bizarre. Somebody who thinks that women have a biological ability to terminate "legitimate rapes" missed a couple of birds and bees lessons. Don't they have those Mr. Sperm and Mrs. Egg handy-dandy educational films anymore for the kinder?
Akin did us all a favor;he drew the crazy line in the sand,Bachman tried,so did Perry,but Akin did it. He stopped the GOP madness in St Louis.
I wish Republicans would stop answering questions about the rape and incest exception. Just say that a baby should not be punished for the sins of the father and move on. Or just openly refuse to answer. The uproar over a "no comment" couldn't be anywhere close to this. Akin stepped in it big time. Without national support he has basically no chance to win and should probably just quit. It's a shame. Senator Claire is a liberal hack and should go. It does bother me that the leftists, themselves unapologetic infanticide enthusiasts, call Akin "crazy."
Todd Akin must resign. He was interviewed on Sean Hannity's program a short time ago—and performed terribly! Akin's original words were not that bad. The problem is that he does not know the first thing concerning damage control. He only digs the hole deeper.
You are right. He was dreadful on Hannity. He just sounded like a thick-headed, "entitled" political hack. And, amidst all this furor, he has the nerve, the absolute nerve, to send out a tweet asking for donations! n nYou know, sometimes I think oh, we should be more like the Dems, they always defend their own. But I'm sorry, what this guy said was indefensible. And – he's an engineer! n nHe needs to GET OUT.
His answer to the question of the interviewer was just plain unintelligble. If he opposes abortion in all cases, then say so ! At least,then, you sound like a principled person. To say the convoluted like a pretzel answer of "legitimate rape' and the quote of some medical "facy' makes him unelectable. It is OK to be principled, it is ok to be extreme, it is NOT OK to be (and sound) stupid!
I wouldn't vote for this idiot.
Unlike the Democrats, when these outrageous candidates pop up, we have to strike them down. As that ad said—-and appropriate to quote on a Commentary blog—"we are held to a higher standard." Frustrating, but, in the end, I think better for us. It may sound arrogant, but it is always better to take the high road.
"…it is always better to take the high road". That is one thought provoking comment, ATT! From a purely political standpoint, I wonder how true it is? I would love to believe it! nAnd, actually, it doesn't sound arrogant at all, just eminently decent.
Whether or not Republicans are held to a higher standard – and I agree that they are – the actions of the Republican powers that be today should be applauded. Now I wonder if this helps the Party – whether Akin withdraws or not. A Republican makes a truly offensive/stupid comment and is immediately repudiated – THIS should be the standard. Maybe people will be impressed. A political party with some integrity.