[Charles Henrickson]

I think Ann Wagner would be a better choice than the other names that have been floated: Kit Bond, Jim Talent, John Ashcroft, or John Danforth (the four former senators); John Brunner or Sarah Steelman (the primary runners-up); Tom Schweich (state auditor); or Jo Ann Emerson (U.S. representative).

And I don't think Akin has it in him to get out of the hole he's dug for himself. If he doesn't show strong signs of polling recovery by next week, he really needs to drop out, before the Democrat Convention.

What do you think?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

She’d be great.

[colorado tanker]

I'm not as close to it as you, but it seems to me Akin has to be replaced. He can't recover from this IMHO.

We had a noob with foot in mouth disease lose a very winnable open Senate seat here two years ago. These opportunities don't come around very often.-

[donozark]

I was in for Steelman, but now? Afraid if she or Brunner get the nod there may be a food fight between the two. Unless they can work it out ahead of time.

Leaning toward Ann Wagner. Go off the reservation this time. She will neutralize the "rape thingy" and we can get on with defeating Mother McCaskill.

But who knows what goes on behind closed doors...

[Biggirl]

You never know, by reading what I have read, Ann Wagner could “quiet” this very distracting situation. She looks very solid conservative.

[PoplarBluffian]

Can’t find much fault with what you say. As much as I hate the way the party pounced on Akin I know why they did. I think the party should have sent a pro to help him maneuver through this & see if he could recover but the night of the election I had more than one person tell me we had just lost our chance to win the Senate seat.

As much as I would love to see someone buck the party & pull off a win, I just don’t see Akin being the one. I resent that the party will withhold funds & not even try but I guess the money will be needed elsewhere. I will still vote for him if he doesn’t step down though. The only name on your list I could get excited about is Wagner. We need a fresher face......

[jimfree]

Ann Wagner is instant inoculation against the Akin story.

[BillyBoy]

According to Akin's fanboys, any candidate in Missouri not named "Todd Akin" is a "pro-abortion RINO" that the "GOP establishment" is planning to run in his place because they "hate pro-lifers"

Never mind the reality that every Republican suggested as a replacement for him is just as solidly pro-life.