Defiant Akin says he's staying in race

CBS News ^ | 8/21/2012 | Stephanie Condon

[nickcarraway]

Republicans are watching the clock as they wait for a defiant Todd Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race following controversial remarks he made about rape and abortion.

The six-term conservative congressman insists he's not quitting -- he said on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's radio show Tuesday afternoon that he's staying in the race.

"I haven't done anything morally or ethically wrong," Akin told Huckabee, saying the backlash against him "does seem like a little bit of an overreaction."

"We are going to continue this race for the U.S. Senate," Akin continued. "We believe taking this stand is going to strengthen our country, going to strengthen, ultimately, the Republican Party."

However, Akin is facing intense pressure from within his own party to drop out of the competitive race against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. He could easily do so -- before 5 p.m. Central Time today. If Akin exits today, the state Republican party will have 28 days to replace him on the ballot. If today's deadline passes, Akin could still withdraw from the race before Sept. 25, but if he did so during that window, the Missouri GOP would have to obtain a court order to replace his name on the ballot. After Sept. 25, the state will not change the names on the state ballot, no matter what.

A close Akin confidante tells CBS News that he will consider his standing over the coming weeks in advance of the Sept. 25 deadline.

[saneright]

What Akin refuses to realize is that low information voters (a.k.a. moderates)will only hear about his stupid comment through the MSM. By staying in the race the dems will talk about nothing else but his rape comment.

Such a dumb ass.

[nickcarraway]

I heard that biologically shuts her womb down.

[NKP_Vet]

The democrats want to run against Akin because they think he is too extreme on abortion and they could beat him. Well before he got diarrea of the mouth the polls had him up by double digits on the worthless McCaskill.

[nickcarraway]

I don’t get all the people saying, “since a Democrat wouldn’t have to drop out, conservatives should do the same thing and not abide by there position.” If someone doesn’t agree with Republican standards, why not just become a Democrat. Why argue that the GOP should be remade in the Democrat’s image?