Is Todd Akin Toast In Missouri?

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National Journal:

 

Is Todd Akin Toast In Missouri?

 

By Josh Kraushaar

August 19, 2012 | 6:17 p.m.

There's been much heated commentary over Missouri Rep. Todd Akin, the GOP's Senate nominee, and his comments on a Missouri television station saying"legitimate rape" rarely resulted in pregnancy. He quickly released a statement clarifying his remarks, but not apologizing for them.

Here are my five quick political takeaways from the burgeoning controversy.

1. Akin still holds even odds to defeat Claire McCaskill. Missouri is a Republican-trending state, and still conservative on social issues. This blunder is going to cost Akin dearly with female voters but the race is still a toss-up. There's a reason why Sen. Claire McCaskill was trailing badly to her three Republican primary opponents. Her job approval numbers are very weak in Missouri.

In 2006, when McCaskill ousted GOP Sen. Jim Talent, it was her surprisingly strong performance in the rural parts of Missouri that put her over the top. (Note that Akin underscored his firm opposition to abortion rights in his clarifying statement.) This controversy may not resonate as strongly in those parts of the state as it is currently in Washington. This race is still a toss-up.

To underscore how socially conservative much of Missouri is,

for Rep. Sam Graves in 2008 against Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes. This was a big House battleground race that year, when President Obama headed the top of the Democratic ticket. The ad, which attacked Barnes' social liberalism, drew controversy because some critics believed it referred to her as "Gay Barnes." But while the punditocracy mocked the ad, Graves won in a landslide.

2. Akin,another not-ready-for-primetime Republican Senate nominee. For the flak Mitt Romney gets over his political skills, it's his party's not-ready-for read more http://decoded.nationaljournal.com/2012/08/is-todd-akin-toast-in-missouri.php

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Posted by Brittany Davis at 10:25 AM on Monday, Aug. 20 in Florida Politics

 

 

'Legitimate rape' gaffe in Missouri could be bad news for Sen. Bill Nelson in Florida

 

Nothing can clarify or take back a phrase like "legitimate rape."

When Missouri GOP Senate candidate and Congressman Todd Akin uttered the two words Sunday, he tried to take it back as an "off the cuff" remark in explaining why he opposes rape-and-incest exceptions to an abortion ban. The Republican presidential ticket distanced themselves from Akin. Other Republicans started writing off his campaign to unseat incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill.

And that could be bad news for Florida Sen. Bill Nelson.

Here's why: Nelson's supporters were hoping that the Read more

 

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