In the midst of GOP members calling for Rep. Todd Akin, Missouri Republican, to leave the Senate race against Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat. Rep. Allen West, Florida Republican, posted a brief statement on his Facebook page condemning Mr. Akin’s remarks about rape:
Last week my opponent put out a tv ad depicting me beating women. That ad is disgraceful and despicable. As a husband and father of two daughters, I found Congressman Todd Akin’s comments about rape to be in the same vein. These comments are simply unacceptable. There is no place in politics for these type of comments and attitudes toward women.
Senate Minority Leader MItch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, according to the L.A. Times has suggested that Rep. Akin should start to consider his options:
“What he said is just flat wrong in addition to being wildly offensive to any victim of sexual abuse,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader. “Although Representative Akin has apologized, I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election.”
Congressman Akin has a deadline of 5pm tomorrow to decide whether or not he will withdraw from the race. He most recently told talk radio host Sean Hannity on Monday afternoon that he is staying in the race. Conservative author and commentator Ann Coulter tweeted:
Dems spent @ $2 million on ads boosting Todd Akin in the primary, according to the NYT - nyti.ms/Rc4sbh Pls withdraw @ToddAkin!
and
we will rally around Akin as GOP hero if he withdraws for the good of the country. Roe is at stake!
However, the Republican Party has already cut funding to his race. The GOP needs to win at least four seats this year in the upper chamber to take back the majority in the Senate and the McCaskill race was once considered to be an easy win up until Akin’s current controversy.
