[newheart]

Akin's big hope is that he is running against Claire McCaskill.

So let's say he steps down, Sarah Steelman (endorsed by pro-life women's groups and Sara Palin) becomes the candidate. The money floods back in to the race and in at least this one case, Palin and the GOPe are in agreement. Win Win.

At that point I'm pretty sure the Claire McCaskill factor would still be in play. But the Republican candidate would not be spending all their waking hours answering for what at best, is a misstatement. He has given the Dems the ammunition they need to defeat him. Yeah, McCaskill is a very weak candidate but somehow she has managed to win before. Why take that chance when the balance in the Senate, and thus the balance in the Republic, is at stake?

[Dr. Sivana]

So let's say he steps down, Sarah Steelman (endorsed by pro-life women's groups and Sara Palin) becomes the candidate. The money floods back in to the race and in at least this one case, Palin and the GOPe are in agreement. Win Win.

He's not going to step down. That's not on the menu. If we are going to go that route, than certainly Romney should step down as he high high unfavorables WITHOUT gaffes, and there are better candidates. No one particularly expects Romney to step down.

GIVEN that he is not going to step down, we have to make the best of it.