Akin’s Support Craters in Missouri

Weekly Standard ^ | 8/26/12 | Fred Barnes

[rhema]

Support for Republican Todd Akin’s decision to stay in the Missouri Senate race has cratered and so has his favorability. Those findings come from two new polls conducted after Akin created a firestorm with his comment about “legitimate rape.”

Republicans, by a 47 percent to 37 percent margin, think he should drop out of the Senate contest against Democrat Claire McCaskill, and self-described Akin supporters believe the same by 50 percent to 34 percent, according to a Mason-Dixon survey. Only Democrats, sensing he’s likely to lose, want him to remain a candidate, 47 percent to 37 percent.

And in a poll for conservative groups, only 24 percent of Missouri voters looked favorably on Akin and 54 percent said they regard him unfavorably.

Before his rape comment two weeks ago, Akin had a solid lead over McCaskill. Republicans counted Missouri as a likely victory that would help them take control of the Senate. Now their chances look shaky.

While Romney did well in the poll for conservative organizations, leading President Obama in Missouri by 54 percent to 41 percent, Akin trailed McCaskill, 44 percent to 36 percent. A few weeks ago, he led by five percentage points. He was ahead by 11 percentage points among independents but now is 17 points behind. Independents, by 57 percent to 25 percent, want him to drop out.

Akin, however, has vowed to stay in the race. His freefall in the two polls will make that decision more difficult to defend.

[tsowellfan]

If he does not step aside, he must win.

If he loses, we conservatives, will own that defeat (even those of us who thought he should step aside for the good of the movement)

You see, the Republican Establishment want him to step down for the good of the party.

Conservatives want him to step down for the good of the movement.

Our movement will suffer greatly if it is because of one of ours that we fail to win a majority in the Senate.

Akin is a conservative. They see him as part of our group. Even Sarah Palin will be blamed for this guy (and she wanted him to step down).

Do we really want 2014 to be for the RINOs what 2010 was for us?

[Jacquerie]

Speaking of FREAKING TRUTH, our precious rino Mittens told Akin to step aside.

When was the last time a President or Prez nominee worked to keep a member of his party out of the Senate?

Shove your holier-than-thou garbage where the sun don't shine.

[so_real]

So the nasty evil GOP operatives decided to blithely toss the senate seat to the democrats in this critical election, simply because the Republican candidate was a "genuine conservative"? Sure.

Well ... yes : Karl Rove Pulls the Purse Strings in Missouri, and Could Decide if Todd Akin Stays or Goes.

[TonyInOhio]

As soon as there is viable candidate that can carry on. Can you give us a name of one???

His two primary opponents were ready to step in, but Huckabee and his followers convinced him to stay in beyond the deadline. Why? Anyone could have predicted this collapse, but some people didn't want to believe it.

Maybe having your family manage your campaign isn't such a good idea.

[Zhang Fei]

We were suppose to win all of our conservative campaigns to show the RINOs that we can do it because our philosophy is the majority, that Americans do not want compromise between the parties.

I'd disagree that our philosophy, taken as a whole, is the majority. A majority of the nation is socially conservative, but the Hispanics and blacks who bring the number over the 50% mark will mostly vote for the Democrats because of freebies and federally-mandated ethnic and racial preferences. A majority of the nation is economically conservative, but many blue-staters who take that number over the 50% mark will vote for the Democrats because they disagree vehemently with our stands on social issues. This complicated dance we're doing with the Democrats is about trying to demoralize minorities who are social conservatives but economic liberals while convincing blue-staters who are economic conservatives and social liberals (i.e. RINO's) that (1) Obama will reduce them to penury and (2) Romney will not prevent their mothers, wives or daughters from aborting babies that result from rape. Akin's statement and stance has just placed the RINO vote in jeopardy.

[dfwgator]

Yep, we’re stuck with him now, and as they say, “You don’t go into war with the Army you want, but with the Army you have.” And Akin is the Army we have.

[tsowellfan]

It’s not nonsense. Akin is a conservative. So are we. If he goes down and we lose the Senate, the RINO wing wins. We will be the blame.

Just like if Romney goes down in November the conservatives get to say to the RINOs “we told you so”.

Akin is NOT the only conservative in Missouri but there is only one Senate seat to win in that state.

[BlatherNaut]

So all you "conservatives" who insist on beating this dead Akin horse day in and day out are accomplishing is fracturing your own political base in MO.

Better warn Huckabee and Akin about "fracturing the political base". Their strategy seems to be to do exactly that.

"Speaking harshly about establishment Republicans who have tried to force Akin from the Missouri race, Huckabee at one point compared the National Republican Senatorial Committee to "union goons" who "kneecap" their enemies."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/24/huckabee-rallies-missouri-pastors-to-akins-side-attacks-gop-establishment/

[SoFloFreeper]

I am not a rino. I want Akin to step aside. I am pro-life, and I want him to step aside.

I posted several times defending him in the days following, but the horse is out of the barn. We need to stop the bleeding, and we needn’t take this hit.

Obamacare, which will endorse the killing of millions more innocent babies will stay in place if we don’t get the Senate, and that is much less likely if Akin stays in.

He is a good man, and I hope he finds somewhere else to serve. I do not think he will serve in the U.S. Senate.

[hecht]

he is toxic to much of the electorate.
even if his core supporters still vote for him that is not a majority coalition.

[Pilsner]

Good thing we didn’t have FReepers at Iwo Jima or we would have surrendered at sea.

Good thing we didn't have the Huckster in charge after Pearl Harbor. He would have selected Generals and Admirals based on his approval of the church they attended, and Catalina Island would be a base of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

[comebacknewt]

If he does indeed lose, will you agree with me then?

[billhilly]

Here’s the chance for FR to show their muscle and prove that they are more than typists. I’ll get the campaign slogan started. “He’s our Biden, so get over it.”

Actually, he is so dumb as a campaigner that I doubt that Moveon.org could save him.

[hecht]

id feel more confident with the French army or WW2

[hecht]

id feel more confident with the French army of WW2

[tsowellfan]

This is politics. I cannot blame anybody for wanting to distance himself from a toxic politician.

By the way, Akin himself said that he never got support from the GOPe in the first place.

Why would you want to receive support from a group you consider your opposition?

[montag813]

Yet many FReepers are getting in line behind the Pied Piper RINO, Huckabee, ready to walk off the cliff for him.

[TonyInOhio]

They are leaving him high and dry because the cost is too great for them. If a conservative of Akin's caliber is not what they wish to spend those dollars on, I am left to wonder what it is they are shopping for.

Surely Huckabee's followers will make up for the money no linger flowing. Aren't the American Family Association and similar groups sending him funds?

I don't think money will help him, honestly, because his campaign is doomed. I'm sending money to other Senate candidates who can win. But, I'm sure the Akin supporters here and in Missouri can get him the cash he needs to finish out the campaign.

[so_real]

No Conservative with a functioning brain thinks giving this seat to a democrat is the best move.

Agreed! Most conservatives with functioning brains also recognize there is an element in the GOP that is *not* conservative and should be "flushed out". There's something to be said for removing the sliver in your own eye first, before helping another with the one in his. The one who spoke that parable was no "mental midget". We have a number of slivers in the GOP; Akin is not one of them.

[edboock]

Brilliantly explained with the proper context. I couldn’t have said it better. Republicans need to learn how to win so they can move forward and accomplish their good works.