There is a way around this. The Tea Party org(s) in MO should field and register on the ballot an “independent” or a “Conservative” or “Tea Party” candidate, who is not subject to the “sore loser” rule - Ann Wagner would be a good choice - as soon as possible.
Akin doesn’t have to “officially” drop out of the race as a Republican candidate, which could be costly and difficult since it’s subject to court’s approval.
With Akin poll numbers dropping like a stone, he could “legitimately” unofficially “withdraw” from the race by announcing that he is not actively seeking office (and/or “endorse” a TP candidate, if it’s deemed not to be a liability.) When other respectable pro-life figures endorse the new candidate locally and in conservative media and blogosphere, the successful “replacement” of the Republican candidate with a conservative candidate. Party affiliation can be changed after election, if needed.
But this needs to be done ASAP, to prevent the GOPe from fielding their own “independent” candidate (they already had a trial balloon with Jo Ann Emerson) which would split the conservative vote with TP candidate and fubar the entire election once again.
The deadline for getting a third-party candidate on the ballot is past. The only way to promote an alternate candidate while Akin’s name remains on the ballot would be as a write-in. The only name with any chance at that would be Kit Bond, but even that is a longshot.