Under MO election law, today is the last day Akin can withdraw with no penalties. If he does, a state GOP committee would name his replacement ASAP.
Under the law, he can still withdraw up until Sept. 25, but if he does so after today, he would be on the hook to pay for the reprinting of ballots. The state committee would still name his replacement.
After Sept. 25, he would be required to get a court order to withdraw from the race. Then we’ll be into Torricelli territory. Who knows if the MO Supreme Court would be as agreeable to the GOP as the NJ Supreme Court was to the Democrats.
Not only that but I think the Missouri Secretary of State has a say in the matter and could muddy the waters. Not that Robin Carnahan would ever use her office to do something like that. </sarcasm>
And that would probably not be granted. Missouri election law is pretty clear: "Whenever a candidate for nomination or election to an office is disqualified after 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Tuesday prior to a primary election, general election or special election to fill a vacancy, his name shall be printed on the primary, general or special election ballot, as the case may be. The election and canvass shall proceed, and, if a sufficient number of votes are cast for the disqualified candidate to entitle him to nomination or election had the candidate not become disqualified, a vacancy shall exist on the general election ballot or in the office to be filled in the manner provided by law."
September 25th is the 6th Tuesday before election day. If a candidate withdraws from the race it's handled the same as if he was found to be unqualified to hold the office. By law if Akin doesn't leave before 5 PM on the 25th then his name remains on the ballot. And if he gets the majority of the votes then the seat is vacant and our Democratic governor will appoint a replacement.
If you ask me...this was all an arranged interview, with the stupid question known ahead of time, and this guy was trained to perform exactly like the opposition wanted. I don’t think you could ask for a better scenario.