It doesn't mean that "gaffes" are without cost, but that, once a bad quote gets out, among the possible outcomes for the party from that point forward, "moving on" with the campaign might statistically be shown to produce a better result. It is quite conceivable, for example, that Karl Rove's very public reaction to Akin did more damage to the party's candidates than Todd Akin himself did.
It is quite conceivable, for example, that Karl Rove's very public reaction to Akin did more damage to the party's candidates than Todd Akin himself did. Wow, good point. By a mile. Not just among leaners and Independents. There was probably a significant number of conservatives who didn't show up because they figured the rest of the ticket must be RINOs Rove liked.