Posted on 08/20/2012 1:48:44 PM PDT by Evil Slayer
Missouri Republican Todd Akin has begun moving toward ending his candidacy after his remarks on rape and abortion provoked a firestorm, a top Republican said.
"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.
But a Republican close to Akin said his position hasn't changed: He's still in the race.
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 Republican 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.
UPDATE: Former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent tells BuzzFeed that he is not running for Senate to replace Akin. He also declined to explicitly call for Akin to step aside, but backed NRSC Chair John Cornyn's cool statement that Akin make his decision quickly.
“He’s got a decision to make and he’s got to make it quickly,” Talent added. “He’s got to know the situation and he needs to sit down and make a personal decision.”
(Excerpt) Read more at buzzfeed.com ...
I looked it up and unfortunately no...the deadline for that would have been July 30th.
“Allowing the party chair to select someone who didn’t even run for the position this year smacks of GOPe-liteism.”
****
In this case, it is more a matter of name recognition, organization, contacts, and the ability to win. Primary losers don’t have an advantage over Talent, Ashcroft, or Bond when it comes to any of these regardless of ideology.
Had GOPe conspired to take Akin out, I would agree with you. Instead, this is full press damage damage control by the state and national party apparatus because Akin shot himself in the foot.
No one in the GOPe was sitting around expecting Akin to say something this terminally stupid that would open the doors for an alternate candidate.
If he stays in he costs us a seat we’d almost certainly get with someone else — anyone else — on the ballot.
I really hope he drops out.
Correct...apparently the NRSC had already allocated $5 million to help Akin that is now withdrawn - the race is written off if Akin stays in.
Yes he has to quit by tomorrow. We shall see.
He’ll run a broke campaign with no national funding.
That's what I thought too. Why isn't the voters represented rather than the GOP-e? Should be Steelman next.
If they select Ann Wagner to replace him then they'll need somoeone to fill the nomination for Akin's congressional seat. And since Akin won't be doing anything...and they need someone to run...could this be the deal being offered him? Keep your old job or wind up with nothing?
Wth? Shouldn’t his replacement be Brunner or Steelman?
Really,he just said on Hannity he is not quitting.
[ He’s toast, it all comes down to how much ego he has and how selfish he is ]
Yep.
That’s the way these things are, you’re in or you’re out, you can’t be half way. So until he says he’s out, he has to maintain the status of in.
It’s The Lautenberg Sanction. Kind of like The Bourne Ultimatum only with less exciting chase scenes.
Had he been a dem........
I imagine the only Republican who is grateful for all this has to be Kevin Yoder. It’s keeping his Sea of Galilee skinnydipping out of the headlines.
Primary results:
2nd GOP runner up was Brunner with 180,788 votes;
3rd GOP runner up was Steelman with 176,127 votes.
A gentle, non-judgmental conversation with a close friend should be able to resolve the situation without a great deal of trouble. That and a severed horse head on his pillow.
He didn’t make much sense on Hannity.
At least get his name right. I don’t know who’s in greater denial, the Bed Wetting Pubbies or Clair “Late Term” McCaskill. Somebody needs to look at the numbers in the Primary and remember this race is in Missouri, not Detroit. What ever Representative Akin decides to do, the Trent Lott wing of the party will be found cowering in the corner.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.