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You don't publicly call for someone to withdraw unless you know they are going to withdraw beforehand.

I disagree - Akin is toxic, and Romney was smart to distance himself. I have to believe that Akin himself would have dropped out had it not been for Huckabee's maneuvering to keep him in.

No Presidential nominee wants to explain how a woman's body will "shut down" a life conceived by rape. I suspect Akin will have a hard time explaining it when asked about it, over and over, through the rest of the campaign.

I disagree - Akin is toxic, and Romney was smart to distance himself.

I like Akin, undertstand what he meant to say, and did not like the immediate hard piling on.

I also thought he should have withdrawn before the 5pm deadline provided that one of the runners-up got the spot.

But he didn't.

There is no point wasting energy and creating a show because you can't stand Akin or can't stand the establishment people who piled on.

There is also no need for the establishment to spend any more emotional energy on this race. They have stated their position, and if they back off, no threat they ever make in the future will be taken seriosuly.

Because the establishment has named Akin toxic, they will have to continue to treat him as such, lest the Dems be given ammo to tie the entire slate to this false meme.

So, there is a divorce. Akin is gonna try to go it alone. The RNC has written off the seat.

I wish Akin could win. I understand why the RNC won't help.

I disagree - Akin is toxic, and Romney was smart to distance himself. I have to believe that Akin himself would have dropped out had it not been for Huckabee's maneuvering to keep him in.

Akin was toxic because of the Rep overreaction to a manufactured MSM/Dem hysteria. In less than 24 hours every Rep inclding the conservative media were attacking Akin and demanding that he withdraw from the race. It was a way over the top reaction to a verbal gaffe. And apology and explanation not accepted. This is no way to treat a colleague.

Akin would have stayed in regardless. I applaud Huckabee for supporting a friend, someone whom he endorsed during the MO primary. Steve King also stood by Akin. Michele Bachmann has been missing in action in that regard.

He apologized and said that a woman could get pregnant during rape. He also clarified that he meant the word forcible instead of legitimate rape. Forcible rape in an FBI categorization to distinguish it from statutoy rape and other forms of rape.

August 20--Congressman Todd Akin released the following statement:

“This weekend I made a mistake. I used the wrong words in the wrong way. What I said was ill-conceived and it was wrong and for that I apologize. I’m a dad of two daughters and I want tough justice for sexual predators and I’ve always had a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault.

“The people from Missouri that elected me know I’m not perfect. We all make mistakes. When you make a mistake what you need to do is tell people you’re sorry. Don’t try and hide it. That’s why I have repeatedly said that I am very sorry for my comments.

“Just because somebody makes a mistake doesn’t make them useless. We need a conservative in the United States Senate, and I am running to replace Claire McCaskill and get our country back on track.”

FWIW: Here is an article from a doctor entitled: Akin not far off base in rape comment. Exclusive: Jane M. Orient, M.D., says political demagoguery is replacing science

IMO Akin should just deflect any questions on the so-called science of the issue and say he has issued an apology and it is now time to move on to the real issues in this campaign.