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| Tea Party leaders and mainstream Republicans call on Todd Akin to quit | Tea Party leaders and mainstream Republicans call on Todd Akin to quit |
| (10 days later) | |
| An unusual coalition of senior and grassroots Republicans is making a concerted push to force rape-row candidate Todd Akin to quit the Missouri senate race ahead of a state election deadline on Tuesday evening. | An unusual coalition of senior and grassroots Republicans is making a concerted push to force rape-row candidate Todd Akin to quit the Missouri senate race ahead of a state election deadline on Tuesday evening. |
| But Akin is stubbornly refusing to go and aired a 30-second ad on Monday night apologising for his comment that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy. | But Akin is stubbornly refusing to go and aired a 30-second ad on Monday night apologising for his comment that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy. |
| Further evidence that Akin is determined to defy the pressure came from Buzzfeed editor in chief Ben Smith who reported in a tweet that the six-term Republican congressman had also bought up advertising time later this month. | Further evidence that Akin is determined to defy the pressure came from Buzzfeed editor in chief Ben Smith who reported in a tweet that the six-term Republican congressman had also bought up advertising time later this month. |
| Tea Party groups, some of whom helped Akin secure victory in last week, urged him to quit on Tuesday following similar calls Monday by presidential challenger Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Paul Ryan, Congressional leaders and conservative talk show hosts. | Tea Party groups, some of whom helped Akin secure victory in last week, urged him to quit on Tuesday following similar calls Monday by presidential challenger Mitt Romney and his vice-presidential running mate Paul Ryan, Congressional leaders and conservative talk show hosts. |
| Under state election law, Akin would face no financial penalties if he pulls out by 6pm ET tonight, and the party would be free to pick an alternative. | Under state election law, Akin would face no financial penalties if he pulls out by 6pm ET tonight, and the party would be free to pick an alternative. |
| If he goes beyond that time, the next date for withdrawal would be September 25, but that would require a court order to allow him leave the race. | If he goes beyond that time, the next date for withdrawal would be September 25, but that would require a court order to allow him leave the race. |
| Leaving it to September 25 could also mean he would face significant financial penalties, such as reimbursing the cost of reprinting ballot papers or other election material. | Leaving it to September 25 could also mean he would face significant financial penalties, such as reimbursing the cost of reprinting ballot papers or other election material. |
| But the Republicans' difficulties on abortion are unlikely to go away even if Akin does quit. On Tuesday, as the leadership turned up the heat on Akin, the party approved language in its platform calling for a constitiutional amendment banning abortion with no explicit exemptions in cases of rape and incest. | But the Republicans' difficulties on abortion are unlikely to go away even if Akin does quit. On Tuesday, as the leadership turned up the heat on Akin, the party approved language in its platform calling for a constitiutional amendment banning abortion with no explicit exemptions in cases of rape and incest. |
| A draft version of the language obtained by CNN said: | A draft version of the language obtained by CNN said: |
| "Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children." | "Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children." |
| Meanwhile, another Republican congressman, Steve King of Iowa, enflamed the row, defending Akin and suggesting that he'd never heard of a woman getting pregnant from statutory rape or incest. | Meanwhile, another Republican congressman, Steve King of Iowa, enflamed the row, defending Akin and suggesting that he'd never heard of a woman getting pregnant from statutory rape or incest. |
| Talking Points Memo on Monday reported him saying: "Well I just haven't heard of that being a circumstance that's been brought to me in any personal way and I'd be open to discussion about that subject matter." | Talking Points Memo on Monday reported him saying: "Well I just haven't heard of that being a circumstance that's been brought to me in any personal way and I'd be open to discussion about that subject matter." |
| The controversy has also focused attention on the anti-abortion views of Mitt Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan. | The controversy has also focused attention on the anti-abortion views of Mitt Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan. |
| The Missouri seat held by Democrat Claire McCaskill is regarded by Republicans as the top target in the campaign to take control of the Senate. McCaskill, who has used the row to portray Akin as an extremist, is urging him to stay in the race. | The Missouri seat held by Democrat Claire McCaskill is regarded by Republicans as the top target in the campaign to take control of the Senate. McCaskill, who has used the row to portray Akin as an extremist, is urging him to stay in the race. |
| Amy Kremer, chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, joined the calls for him to stand down, telling CNN the fact that McCaskill was urging him to remain "speaks volumes". | Amy Kremer, chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, joined the calls for him to stand down, telling CNN the fact that McCaskill was urging him to remain "speaks volumes". |
| It is unusual for the senior Republican leadership and Tea Party groups to be so united. Part of the reason for the existence of the Tea Party movement was a backlash against the party leadership in Washington. | It is unusual for the senior Republican leadership and Tea Party groups to be so united. Part of the reason for the existence of the Tea Party movement was a backlash against the party leadership in Washington. |
| If Akin quits, he could be replaced either by Jim Brunner, a businessman who came second in the primary with 30% – 6% behind Akin – or Sarah Steelman, a former state treasurer, who took 29%. | If Akin quits, he could be replaced either by Jim Brunner, a businessman who came second in the primary with 30% – 6% behind Akin – or Sarah Steelman, a former state treasurer, who took 29%. |
| Brunner has already been sounding out party members about replacing Akin. | Brunner has already been sounding out party members about replacing Akin. |
| The Republican senate campaign committee and conservative Super Pacs have withdrawn about $10m in financial support for Akin. The last remaining hope for Akin is to attract donations from individual donors. | The Republican senate campaign committee and conservative Super Pacs have withdrawn about $10m in financial support for Akin. The last remaining hope for Akin is to attract donations from individual donors. |
| One of the tests of whether there is still support for him in Missouri will be the level of donations in response to his new ad, and that might determine whether he remains in the race. | One of the tests of whether there is still support for him in Missouri will be the level of donations in response to his new ad, and that might determine whether he remains in the race. |
| In his 30-second ad, Akin apologised over his comment suggesting that 'legitimate rape' rarely led to pregnancy. | In his 30-second ad, Akin apologised over his comment suggesting that 'legitimate rape' rarely led to pregnancy. |
| He said: "Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologise. As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault, and I pray for them. | He said: "Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologise. As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault, and I pray for them. |
| "The fact is rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness." | "The fact is rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness." |
| Public Policy Polling, in a survey conducted on Monday night, showed the row has not had any significant impact on voting intentions yet. Akin is leading McCaskill% to 43%, almost unchanged from May when he was ahead 45% to 44%. | Public Policy Polling, in a survey conducted on Monday night, showed the row has not had any significant impact on voting intentions yet. Akin is leading McCaskill% to 43%, almost unchanged from May when he was ahead 45% to 44%. |
| It may be that the poll was conducted too soon to fully register any unease with Akin. | It may be that the poll was conducted too soon to fully register any unease with Akin. |
| As well as possible repercussions for the senate race, Democrats also see Akin as useful in highlighting differences between the Obama-Biden ticket and the Romney-Ryan on abortion. | As well as possible repercussions for the senate race, Democrats also see Akin as useful in highlighting differences between the Obama-Biden ticket and the Romney-Ryan on abortion. |
| In the light of the row, there will be pressure to change the draft to include exceptions for rape and incest. | In the light of the row, there will be pressure to change the draft to include exceptions for rape and incest. |
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