Posted on 08/26/2012 3:00:52 PM PDT by rhema
Support for Republican Todd Akins decision to stay in the Missouri Senate race has cratered and so has his favorability. Those findings come from two new polls conducted after Akin created a firestorm with his comment about legitimate rape.
Republicans, by a 47 percent to 37 percent margin, think he should drop out of the Senate contest against Democrat Claire McCaskill, and self-described Akin supporters believe the same by 50 percent to 34 percent, according to a Mason-Dixon survey. Only Democrats, sensing hes likely to lose, want him to remain a candidate, 47 percent to 37 percent.
And in a poll for conservative groups, only 24 percent of Missouri voters looked favorably on Akin and 54 percent said they regard him unfavorably.
Before his rape comment two weeks ago, Akin had a solid lead over McCaskill. Republicans counted Missouri as a likely victory that would help them take control of the Senate. Now their chances look shaky.
While Romney did well in the poll for conservative organizations, leading President Obama in Missouri by 54 percent to 41 percent, Akin trailed McCaskill, 44 percent to 36 percent. A few weeks ago, he led by five percentage points. He was ahead by 11 percentage points among independents but now is 17 points behind. Independents, by 57 percent to 25 percent, want him to drop out.
Akin, however, has vowed to stay in the race. His freefall in the two polls will make that decision more difficult to defend.
Todd Akin is our Alvin Greene - a toxic stupid inept candidate who will will certainly lose but the rest of the GOP has to distance itself from to stop from being tainted by his indefensible comment.
Even Rush said what he said was stupid and he should step down.
>> His numbers tanked far more because his friends in the Gop-E spent the last week hacking, slicing and dicing their own man.
Yup.
You’ve got the republican vote. It’s the independents that jackass Akin threw away and it’s not coming back. Fail!
Because the laws of the state of Missouri don't permit it and he won the primary and what makes you think anyone else could beat McCaskill at this point and you are beginning to sound like a Democrat who wants to contest every decision and count every chad and redo every election again and again ad nauseum until they get their way ... and then want something else.
Akin is the nominee from Missouri. Get used to it.
The two obvious replacements that you did not mention, Sarah Steelman and John Brunner, were each projected to beat McCaskill in pre-primary polling. Why not choose one of them? They could easily put campaigns back together and would actually have a chance to win.
Exactly!
You're probably right. And come November, McCaskill will still be the Senator from Missouri. Get used to it.
Akin screwed us all by staying in the race. He is not irreplaceable but every day that passes makes it more difficult. Somebody should have grown up a long time ago. He’s a jerk.
” watch one of the RINOs get put up in his place. The GOP-E will see to it that the 97.25 rated candidate will be replaced by a squishy one.”
And an ultra liberal democrat will be sent packing.
Fair trade.
I’m glad you responded but I was hoping you would share with us who has been offered the slot by the Central Committee if Akin drops and who has turned it down. With your comments, I was hoping you had some info for us that I missed. I can’t read everything.
“You’re probably right. And come November, McCaskill will still be the Senator from Missouri. Get used to it.”
And get used to McCaskill being there for 6 years. 6 long liberal years.
Various reasons —
They would not be running as write-in candidates; one of them would be running as the GOP nominee after Akin withdraws.
Like Akin, Steelman and Brunner were also leading McCaskill by double-digits...and they haven't said anything stupid or made any pig-headed decisions since the primary.
Of course, they could beat McCaskill.
“and what makes you think anyone else could beat McCaskill at this point and you are beginning to sound like a Democrat”
This statement proves you know nothing at all about the political situation here in Mo as far as the senate race is concerned.
McCAskill is the weakest Democratic senator running for re-election. A worthy Rep candidate, even at this late date, would beat her. That Akin is losing this bad against a candidate this weak shows you just how toxic how he is.
Perfectly dissected, thanks!
“this situation is completely salvageable”
Are you serious or are you just being argumentative?
Have you read this article? Do you understand the impact of his losing support so massively among moderates and independents?
He has made his reputation and he has to live with it, there is no turning his image around. Can you tell me how he does this? How he pulls his negatives up? How does he gets his message out against the constant barrage of rape and rape related questions on TV radio and during the debates.
Akin is a dead man walking.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.