Akin’s gaffe was much more egregious than “Macaca”; and we know that cost George Allen, and the GOP, a Senate seat. Maybe that’s why people, such as Ann Coulter, were quick to respond. History does repeat itself. (But, then so does histrionics.) McCaskill was down by 11 points before this happened. Now polls show the MO Senate Race “Leaning Democrat”. I’d say the odds of Akin pulling this out are astoundingly “against” that happening.
Sorry for the double posting of my comment. Don’t know how that happened.
The attacks on Akins' are thinly veiled attacks on pro-life people. It obvious the GOP under Romney wants to move to a more pro-choice position. And is make an example of Akin.
The point, or a point, of the post is that Akin would be in better shape if the Republican criticism had been wiser.
Akin looks now like he’ll lose by about 5%, it’s arguable that without the Republican firestorm against him personally (not just his retracted remarks) his chances would be about even instead.
With Akin’s quick retraction they could easily condemn the remarks without attacking him.
Which would have been the practical thing to do.
It’s what Dems would do in any case and what Republicans would do on other issues.
Republicans reacted extremely instead of intelligently because this is a social issue or ‘women’s issue’.