Todd Akin ignores first deadline to drop out of Missouri race. Now what?

[jsr]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0821/Todd-Akin-ignores-first-deadline-to-drop-out-of-Missouri-race.-Now-what

Despite the pleadings of top Republicans, from Mitt Romney on down, to drop out of the Missouri Senate race, Rep. Todd Akin has held firm: He is staying in.

An important deadline has now passed. Under Missouri election law, if Congressman Akin had agreed to quit the race before 5 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, all the state Republican Party committee needed do was name a replacement candidate in the next two weeks to face Sen. Claire McCaskill (D).

Now, on the eve of the Republican National Convention, the embarrassing spectacle of the party’s top figures trying to get the winner of a state primary to quit his race moves into a new phase. If Akin drops out by Sept. 25, his name can still be removed from the ballot, though with a court order. The two-week rule on naming a replacement would still apply.

After Sept. 25, Akin’s name remains on the ballot, regardless of whether he’s actively running. An alternate Republican could run as a write-in.

[Jumping John]

1. Maybe an airplane crash? nt

[MoonRiver]

4. Well, maybe. It's Missouri after all.

[calimary]

2. Good job, mittski! Great leadership you just showed there.

You're supposed to be the titular head of your party. You're top of the ticket, the biggest name on the buses and bumper stickers. And this demonstration of political anemia is all you've got in your bag of tricks for leadership.

[mucifer]

3. to drop out six weeks before the election would still lose the seat for the repubs.

We thought there was a good chance of losing McCaskill's seat. Now it looks like we will probably keep it and it is a BIG DEAL.
We need every seat we can get in the senate. If we lose the senate and the house, it will be even messier than it is now.

[BlueStreak]

6. Exactly. There is no good scenario for the party now.

They can't push him out if he refuses to go. There is this little problem that the good Republicans of Missouri voted for this teabagger. So what are their options?

1) Do nothing. But that means the Dems can attack the entire party with the message, basically, that Akin speaks for all of you. He's your man. What he's saying is right in like with your party's platform. This crazy guy is you. Akin has gotten so much publicity that it will really be possible to "run against Akin" in many congressional districts and Senate contests. Will that be decisive? Maybe in some tight races. There is nothing good in this scenario for Republicans. Every day that the discussion is on using the vast totalitarian power of the government to compel women to bear children from rapists, this is a bad day for Republicans. A very bad day.

2) Make a deal with Akin to get out. I'm not sure this guy has a price the party is willing to pay. And if there was such a price, that deal should have been struck today. After today, the GOP would have to get a court order to get somebody else on the ballot. But the Dems could fight that, which delays the decision and keeps the core issue active in discussion. While there might be a more electable candidate than Akin, the delays will not help the GOP. And if they succeed in convincing Akin to take his position under the bus, that could anger teabaggers.

[lastlib]

5. About the court order:

my understanding is that if he tries to withdraw between now and Sept. 25th, he has to go to court and ask to remove his name; and they'll only do it * if there is no objection. * Kicker is, we have a Dem SOS (Robin Carnahan) who ain't gonna sit back and let the 'Pubs screw up the state ballots--she's gonna object STRONGLY. So he's effectively stuck on the ballot now, like an albatross around the GOP neck. All he could really do is say he is going to stop campaigning and allow for a write-in candidate like John Brunner. That has it's own complications, and carries alot of risk for the GOP, probably letting McCaskill coast to an easy victory.

[Kalidurga]

7. It's the GOP's problem now.

A lot of people are going to want their Republicans on the ticket explain if they agree with Akin or not. Not about the ridiculous idea that legitimate rape rarely results in pregnancy. But, the part in the platform that allows for no exceptions for abortions, not rape, not incest, and not for the health of the mother. The truth is out in the open now and Republicans are going to be questioned about this issue in their platform.

This is problematic for them because, if they say they are pro-life no exceptions they turn off moderates, independents, and other non-lunatic people. If they say they are for exceptions they turn of the lunatic faction of their party, which is at least 28%, but probably higher. It is a lose-lose situation for the loser party.