Posted on 09/25/2012 5:13:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
August 21 was the deadline for him to drop out and be replaced by another candidate without needing court approval. He passed. Today was the deadline to drop out with court approval, before the ballots are printed, which makes it effectively the last chance. Another pass.
If you want McCaskill out, this is now the only game in town:
With the deadline for him to exit the race just hours away, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) reaffirmed his commitment to staying in the race, saying that he has "one purpose going into November, and that's replacing Claire McCaskill."
Akin said he'd be staying in because Missouri voters — both in nominating him and in conversations he's had while traveling the state — said they wanted him as their nominee.
"You are mainstream Missouri. We want you, Congressman Akin, as our senator, and particularly we want you now because we know that people can't buy you and that you're going to stand up for this state and this country and not be bought by any special-interest group," he said people have told him, at a press conference on Tuesday.
Said one Missouri GOP strategist, “God has spoken: Todd is running.” Daily Kos’s pollster, PPP, took heat when it released a poll shortly after the “legitimate rape” comments that showed Akin within a point of McCaskill despite the backlash; the theory was that they were trying to encourage him to stay in the race, knowing that he’d be easier to beat than some other Republican. For what it’s worth, though, here’s what they said this afternoon on decision day:
If I did Intrade I’d put some money on Akin, I think he has a very decent chance of winning
— PublicPolicyPolling (@ppppolls) September 25, 2012
Our 2 polls since the Akin comments both found a 1 pt race with the vast majority of undecideds GOP leaning…
— PublicPolicyPolling (@ppppolls) September 25, 2012
And I think those undecided Republicans are ultimately going to decide they dislike McCaskill more than Akin
— PublicPolicyPolling (@ppppolls) September 25, 2012
Rasmussen had McCaskill by six as of two weeks ago, but there are two big X factors in play. One: McCaskill’s been holding back to some extent on hammering him with the “legitimate rape” stuff for fear of driving down his numbers to the point that he’d quit the race. Now that he’s locked in, she can stop holding back. And lo and behold, here’s a massive oppo dump and new campaign ad released just this afternoon. The next round of polls will be interesting.
Two: Conservative groups have been holding back on donating to him in hopes that starving him of money would kill his campaign before the deadline. Akin’s bet all along was that they were bluffing — and it looks like he was right. Jim DeMint’s PAC issued a statement today noting that “circumstances have changed” now that the deadline’s passed. Newt Gingrich, who’s been out in front lately in stumping for Akin, predicted yesterday that by mid-October all the major Republican groups will be kicking in. Reince Priebus swore last month that the RNC wouldn’t give him a penny even if the race is tied, but given the GOP’s fortunes in Senate polling lately, there’s simply no way RP will let an opportunity pass. (The way the Bill Nelson/Connie Mack race is shaping up in Florida, Akin may well end up getting some of the money earmarked for Mack.) Thanks to Missouri’s red trend, McCaskill’s mediocrity, and troubles elsewhere, this seat may still end up being one of the best pick-up opportunities for the GOP, notwithstanding the “legitimate rape” kerfuffle. Go figure.
bttt
I hope he wins.
Hoping he wins.
It increases the chances for another conservative to populate the chambers so it doesn't look good for the GOP.
I bet this really ticked off the GOP. Well, I guess they have no choice now than to get behind a real conservative.
McCASKIT is pumping the local airwaves with that dumb statement he made weeks past. That has been her one-trick-pony now for a while.
However, in a nearby rural town of maybe 20K, 8K are eating only because a local church has been pushing a food drive. (I'm not even talking about 0pansy and food stamps folks.)
I truly think that rural MO will overlook Akin and his dumb statement and vote for him. If nothing more than having hope of getting a job to buy food. Rural MO will send McCASKIT to the 0pansy toilet bowl. I'm confident of it.
Has the Republican Party of MO given any thought to maybe having CLOSED primaries from now on?
I love it when a man stands for principle and does not back down. GO TODD AKIN!!!
Go Akin!
Every election year we have 1 race that totally takes the DC Beltway media by surprise. I think this one may be it.
McCaskil is very unpopular, is polling under 50% in a pro Romney state. According to most polling Akin is closer then he should be
It would be funnier then heck to watch the GOP media from Rove on down have to eat massive amounts of crow if Akin turned out to be the 51st Republican Senator.
A big thank you goes out to those carrying water for Claire McCaskill and her fellow Demwits, including the Partisan Media Shills. Thanks SeekAndFind.
Doesn't help, in two ways: the RNC will divert money back to Akin that is really needed elsewhere (think Ohio), and he's likely to lose despite it.
I still hope he wins, to prove the cynic in me wrong, but I don't think he will. The Lefty groups will pour money into defeating him, because he is a symbol of all they hate.
Why have primaries at all? Here in VA the gop decided to select their candidate for governor next year by convention.
If they could stomach supporting Specter, with all his liberal views, then they should be able to support Akin! Of course, we all know that Specter’s views were closer to the establishment than Akin’s, so they worked to destroy him. A democrat is always preferable to a conservative in their minds.
What does this now do to the GOP’s prospect for taking the Senate?
It means the GOP will pick up Missouri unless the RINO’s continue stabbing Akin in the back. By the way doesn’t the liberal wing of the GOP expect the conservatives to back their boy for the Presidency?
Using the same logic, if the lefty groups pour money into this race, Akin might help other Reps win.
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