As the clock ticks down to the final deadline for Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Missouri, other legal provisions of the state’s election law will begin to take effect, hampering efforts favored by much of the Republican establishment to force him from the race. Akin, formerly considered one of Republicans' best chances at a Senate pickup, drew ire from conservatives nationwide over comments he made about pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape" being rare. Republicans, including Mitt Romney, asked Akin to drop out of the race, but he has persisted, despite effectively becoming...
