Akin’s Support Craters in Missouri

Weekly Standard ^ | 8/26/12 | Fred Barnes

[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.

[SeminoleCounty]

Every Senate seat has been accounted for. The seat Akin is running for has been considered an easy pick up for the GOP.

If we do not win the majority in the Senate we cannot repeal ObamaCare (or as you call it “ObamaScare”).

So, yes if Akin loses and because of his loss we do not gain enough conrol in the Senate to repeal Obamacare... he owns it. Yes!

---

You aren’t going to overturn ObamaCare with that invertebrate PhonyCon Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader....whether Akin wins or not. McConnell will sandbag any attempt at reversal...he already has said such

Akin would be a better choice to pick a new Majority Leader than the other primary losers or other “names” people have been floating to replace Akin

Replacing a solid conservative always means you are going more liberal

[doug from upland]

What's stopping them? [My contention was conservatives from around the country would send lots of money to another completely capable pro-life conservative.] Did you read that sentence or just cut and paste? Let's think really hard here. Could the thing that is stopping them (including me) from sending money to another completely capable pro-life conservative be........................Todd Akin still stands in the way? Your answer of what is stopping them is Akin. I cannot send money to another GOP Senate candidate in Missouri because that person has not yet replaced Akin. Duh.

Akin team's political prowess? Political prowess? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! His wife and son in the echo chamber. "Party bosses" had $5 million allocated for his campaign or for Brunner or for Steelman. Brunner and Steelman can still retain the conservative vote and get a majority of independents. You do not win without independents and the loon has lost those. I find it fascinating that some still think Akin can win this without dollars and sense. Particularly in these tough economic times, we try to spend our money wisely. Giving any money to Akin is flushing it down the toilet. They should do some good with it and give it to a food bank.

[doug from upland]

How can Akin help choose a new majority leader if he is sitting at home in January?

[doug from upland]

Sarah Palin is now “Establishment”? How did I miss that?

[tsowellfan]

Majority Leader, Akin? Sounds nice I'd LOVE that! But I'm sorry about to burst your bubble but I go by the numbers and the post rape comment polling data for Akin is not impressing me at all.

Akin is one of those candidates I would LOVE to see win and be in the Senate but when I look at electability my feet return back to earth.

It's very unfortunate because more than a week ago he had it all going for him.

[tsowellfan]

Palin, Limbaugh, Levin... they are all RINOs now < /sarc

[tsowellfan]

I’m in the same boat. I’m wanting to send money to the campaign of whoever replaces Akin but that’s not going to happen until Akin gets out of the way. I’m sure millions of conservatives would be willing to do that.

[so_real]

"Duh" yourself. Akin isn't stopping anyone from running write-in or 3rd party. He's not stopping you or anyone else from contributing to a write-in or 3rd party candidate. He doesn't control the "$5 million" you indicate party bosses are holding in the wings for another contender. Put it out there or quit whining about it. With all these millions you say are available, while Akin sits on a pittance, running him over with local advertising is a real possibility.

Though, I do agree with you that spending on a 3rd party or write-in candidate would be a foolish waste of money. Akin hasn't stepped aside, and on such short notice, with Akin being supported by a fair portion of the conservative vote, no campaign can be mounted to defeat both him and McCaskill. So, you are right about that. I've been saying that same thing this whole thread. If the GOP wants to win that seat, there is only one candidate to support. And if they don't want to win that seat, or GOPe pride holds them on the sidelines, by all means hold on to those dollars and keep slinging mud at Akin instead. Those in Missouri will know who had their backs and who did not.

[doug from upland]

THE SCOREBOARD:

47% of Republicans think he should drop out

50% of his self-described supporters think he should drop out

24% of Missouri voters (a poll of conservative groups) look at him favorably

57% of independents want him to drop out (25% say stay)

Yep, things are looking good for Todd in Missouri.

[doug from upland]

Supported by a fair portion of the conservative vote? A conservative pro-life primary winner should be supported by virtually 100% of the conservative vote (unless there is some conservative 3rd party running). Unfortunately (if the survey in the article is valid), 50% of his own supporters want him to withdraw. 50%! In conservative groups, only 24% see him favorably. Those are astounding numbers. I don’t know that I have ever seen anything quite like that before. Anyone having some disposable income to donate in this political season does not want to waste it. The only smart money coming to his campaign will be from McCasKILL supporters. Until Sept. 25. The longer he takes to do the right thing, the less chance of beating McCasKILL.

Bartlett famous quotes: “It’s not about me.” ...Todd Akin, Missouri, 2012

[so_real]

What you fail to do, is tell me how he does this.

There is so much that can be done, where does one start? I'm not on the election team, so I am totally speaking off the cuff, but how about starting with endorsements. The 2008 POTUS primary was a statistical three way split between first place finisher McCain, second place finisher Huckabee, and third place finisher Romney in Missouri. Each enjoyed about a third of the voters. Some do not think highly of Huckabee, but he has a considerable following in Missouri (perhaps as their governor neighbor to the south and fellow Bible belter). Huckabee came to bat for Akin in the primary season (victorious primary season) and appears poised to do so again. A return visit to Missouri in October would be a very good, and inexpensive, move.

[so_real]

The only polls you have to take statistics from were performed prior to Friday's reaffirmation. If there was a weekend poll I am not aware of, by all means link it to me. Akin is in it to the end. The kneejerk is over. And people are settling down and resigning themselves to the Akin vs McCaskill big picture thinking. I'll wait for the next polling cycle for further information. I'm not the type to get all finger-wringing and sky-is-falling as others harp on old polling data. Heck, Rasmussen had Talent +2 in October 2006 over McCaskill and we all know how that turned out. Gotta love Missouri for keeping you guessing.

[so_real]

I've stated before (2008) I am not a fan of Huckabee's spending record, and he's loose with his pardoning pen, but I don't consider him a RINO. And, he does have a considerable following in the Bible Belt. The public support Huckabee has provided Akin will impact conservative voters in Missouri favorably.

[duckln]

Did it ever occur to anyone that the party regulars really don’t want him to resign because among other things, the Democrats have targeted the GOP with the "war on women".

Akin takes all the spears, while the GOP frames the Economy debate on the main stage. With Akins gone the GOP can be attacked, but not while we et al are still bashing Akins.

Akins will win.<

[doug from upland]

I just looked at all the time I have wasted talking about this lunatic. This is not productive. I should be working on business.

If he stays in, the seat is lost. I hope the damage this arrogant *ss is doing in Missouri can be largely confined to Missouri. The irony? The man who vigorously supports the life of the innocent in the womb is going to be the reason a staunch pro-abort woman stays in the Senate. It is like something from THE TWILIGHT ZONE or THE OUTER LIMITS.

My advice to anyone who does not like wasting money is that, if you are thinking of giving money to Akin, you should give to FR instead.

[doug from upland]

No, it never occurred to me.

May I give some gentle constructive criticism? If you are going to support him, it would be helpful to spell his name correctly. You got it wrong three our of four tries. I guess that speaks to how irrelevant he has become.

re: “Akins will win.” Someone named Akins, who is not even on the ballot, has an equal chance of winning as does Akin.

[duckln]

You got it wrong three our of four tries.
You meant 'three of'? Just returning your moot remark.

If it never occurred to you , why not. It's the only thing that explains what's going on imo.

[doug from upland]

touche, my friend :)

I don’t have an explanation. A winnable set has been thrown away.

[muir_redwoods]

If you think that slip of the tongue is comparable to Akin’s gaffe you don’t belong in a leadership position.

[Jacquerie]

The reaction by the Party has been infinitely worse than the gaffe itself.

Exactly. Our weaklings folded at the first shriek from the feminists. What wusses. We could have thrown it back in their faces as much ado over nothing and told them to get real, discuss the issues that affect our nation, how 'Bam is destroying our republic, how McCaskill voted in lockstep with Dingy Harry . . .