Yesterday I cautioned against piling on a candidate within minutes before giving the candidate a chance to react himself.
With the benefit of 24 hours, it’s clear that Akin has become a national liability, in part because his apology was round-about, in part because Republicans are not forgiven as easily as Democrats (remember how the press and Democrats reacted to allegations of rape made against Bill Clinton), and in part because Republicans who control the money and political leadership have been left with no choice but to do everything withing their power to distance themselves.
As many readers pointed out, at this point the merits hardly merit discussion.
Akin says he is staying in the race. I am not of the school that he would be bound to lose under other circumstances. With time Missouri voters would have to weigh his statements against Claire McCaskill’s support for the Obama agenda and Obamacare. But that’s with time, of which there is precious little before election day and the conventions.
These developments today should give Akin pause as to whether he wants to drag others down with him (h/t Charles):
Duchess of Kitty has more links in the comments.
There are two ways Akin could drop out. By tomorrow, or as late as September 25 by court petition.
At this point, let’s hope it’s tomorrow.
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