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Akin’s Support Craters in Missouri
Weekly Standard ^ | 8/26/12 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 08/26/2012 3:00:52 PM PDT by rhema

Support for Republican Todd Akin’s 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 he’s 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.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: 2012polls; akin; mccaskill; mo2012
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To: Uncle Chip

I will suggest this again. Would this be acceptable to you?

Akin meets with the Central Committee and strikes a deal. He agrees to withdraw if he can name his replacement, who would most assuredly be pro-life and conservative. If the replacement is someone who has a better shot at winning (that would be a couple million people in Missouri), they should strike the deal.

Does that work?


161 posted on 08/26/2012 6:13:24 PM PDT by doug from upland (I don't like RINOs, but I love my country more than I hate Romney...Muslim marxist, get out!)
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To: hecht

How many times are you going to strategically surrender before you stay and fight?

Pray for America


162 posted on 08/26/2012 6:15:39 PM PDT by bray (The Gummit didn't make my business, God did!)
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To: doug from upland
The problem is not the party; it is Akin.

Exactly! The apologists for Akin are setting up these straw men and blaming Romney, Rinos and the GOP Establishment for Akin's own silly comments.

This is an insult to conservatism. We should not be crying wolf about the GOPe and RINOs because they do exist and they are a problem. To blame them for Akin's own words only hurts our credibility and the next time they undercut us FOR REAL they will laugh and claim we're just crying wolf again.

Often times it really is Conservatism vs RINOism but this is not one of those cases. To claim it it makes us look like liars.

163 posted on 08/26/2012 6:16:42 PM PDT by tsowellfan (Voting for Obama/Biden is like purposely swallowing two tapeworms)
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To: TonyInOhio

“I do have a serious question for Akin supporters, though: how do you see him winning going forward?”

I have asked this very question many times before, and I never seem to get a realistic answer.

Mainly because there is no answer.


164 posted on 08/26/2012 6:18:05 PM PDT by WILLIALAL
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To: WILLIALAL
It would have to be a woman as everyone has said. You could add Vicky Hartzler to that list. Bond is beyond retirement and Talent lost in 06 to McC. He has already said NO.

The three Congresswomen have sure things and safe districts and in no way would they trade a sure thing for a risky fight.

Face it -- there are just no real easy options.

165 posted on 08/26/2012 6:18:43 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: TonyInOhio
Since his interviews, reputable pollsters have found that 47% of Republicans and 57% of Independents want him to withdraw from the race in favor of another candidate.

That's pretty scary.

The choice is clear: Akin or Conservatism

At some point that choice will be made for us and it may not be conservatism that's the third option. There really does exist a GOPe and at some point they will make a move if we do not.

166 posted on 08/26/2012 6:19:52 PM PDT by tsowellfan (Voting for Obama/Biden is like purposely swallowing two tapeworms)
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To: Uncle Chip

“The three Congresswomen have sure things and safe districts and in no way would they trade a sure thing for a risky fight.

Face it — there are just no real easy options.”

It wouldn’t be easy, but I feel one of them would take up the mantle if the question were asked with the full binding commitment of the entire GOP establishment to pour in the money and personnel.
I can see a fresh face adding a lot of excitement to this race as everyone is going to be tired of the Akin incident, and they are already tired of McCaskill.


167 posted on 08/26/2012 6:23:04 PM PDT by WILLIALAL
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To: Jacquerie

Akin may be a good guy, but he is stupid and we cannot afford stupid. Worse it seems he is stuborn too even in the face of allowing the media to paint stereotypes one the rest of Conservatives nationwide that makes their job of making conservative Republican majorities in the Senate.

I’m a Missourian and I can not support a fool on a fool’s errand. Vote for him if I have no other choice but not support him when he can drop out and let a viable candidate take over.


168 posted on 08/26/2012 6:24:11 PM PDT by Flying Circus
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To: Jacquerie

Akin may be a good guy, but he is stupid and we cannot afford stupid. Worse it seems he is stuborn too even in the face of allowing the media to paint stereotypes one the rest of Conservatives nationwide that makes their job of making conservative Republican majorities in the Senate.

I’m a Missourian and I can not support a fool on a fool’s errand. Vote for him if I have no other choice but not support him when he can drop out and let a viable candidate take over.


169 posted on 08/26/2012 6:24:11 PM PDT by Flying Circus
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To: TonyInOhio
how can he possibly win?

You and I already know the answer, he can't and won't. But that's not the question for his supporters. They only issue for them is that he is ideologically pure. Winning doesn't matter.

It also doesn't matter that Akin was barely on the radar screen, a distant third in the race before he was annointed as the preferred opponent by McCaskill. It doesn't matter that he completely destroyed his candidacy in mere moments of stupidity following by a pile on of studpidity in his lame defense of his stupid remarks. It doesn't matter than he seems only to be interested in preserving his comfy Beltway lifestyle. None of this matters, he has been declared to be ideologically pure and that is what really counts, after all.

Now, they are all arguing about who can get closest to the podium for the concession speech. It will be a glorious night for them all. Strange lot, these.

170 posted on 08/26/2012 6:24:39 PM PDT by centurion316
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To: tsowellfan

“The choice is clear: Akin or Conservatism”

The real choice is Akin stepping down or McCaskill.


171 posted on 08/26/2012 6:25:47 PM PDT by WILLIALAL
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To: doug from upland

You must live in Polly Annavile somewhere between bankrupt San Bernardino and dreamy Hollywood???


172 posted on 08/26/2012 6:27:00 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: centurion316

“Now, they are all arguing about who can get closest to the podium for the concession speech. It will be a glorious night for them all. Strange lot, these.”

Strange indeed!


173 posted on 08/26/2012 6:27:59 PM PDT by WILLIALAL
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To: WILLIALAL

Hopefully Akin will respect the desire of the majority of republican voters in his state and step aside. If McCaskill wins, Akin will own that defeat and the national results of it.


174 posted on 08/26/2012 6:29:23 PM PDT by tsowellfan (Voting for Obama/Biden is like purposely swallowing two tapeworms)
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To: Uncle Chip

A congresswoman, even in a safe district, would not want a shot at the Senate? Good grief. This is not California and a race against Feinstein. It is a winnable seat against McCasKILL. Except by Akin. Conservatives see it and independents see it.


175 posted on 08/26/2012 6:29:47 PM PDT by doug from upland (I don't like RINOs, but I love my country more than I hate Romney...Muslim marxist, get out!)
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To: bray

A fight led by General Scheisskopf is a waste of human resources.


176 posted on 08/26/2012 6:30:41 PM PDT by hecht (restore Hetch-Hetchy, and screw San Francisco and Pelosi)
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To: doug from upland; Uncle Chip

It seems that Uncle Chip does know quite a bit about Missouri politics. He may well be a source for some great insider info. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he is a member of the Akin family, Uncle indeed. They will all enjoy the party following the concession speech in November.


177 posted on 08/26/2012 6:30:44 PM PDT by centurion316
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To: Jacquerie
Abandon the good guy on the field of battle...

Abandon? The guy walked into a clearly marked mine field and started failing around with the predictable results. Only an incompetent, or one with a death wish, would do what Akin did. You don't want a guy like that on your squad. He increases the chances of everyone else to be injured or kilt.

178 posted on 08/26/2012 6:30:48 PM PDT by muleskinner
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To: WILLIALAL
It wouldn’t be easy, but I feel one of them would take up the mantle if the question were asked with the full binding commitment of the entire GOP establishment to pour in the money and personnel.

Would that also be at the point of a sword???

179 posted on 08/26/2012 6:30:48 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: centurion316

they beleive i both the magic uterus and the magic ballot box


180 posted on 08/26/2012 6:32:15 PM PDT by hecht (restore Hetch-Hetchy, and screw San Francisco and Pelosi)
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