Can Rep. Todd Akin withdraw? Sure, but it’s unlikely

[Capt. Obvious]

With even Republicans asking whether it’s too late to replace Rep. Todd Akin as a candidate for U.S. Senate (following his jaw-dropping exposition on whether “legitimate” rape disproportionately affects pregnancy rates), I thought it might be useful to see whether this is even possible.

The answer (as usual), is that he can, but absent Rep. Akin quickly deciding on his own to withdraw, there’s probably not enough time for Missouri’s political machinery to urge him to drop out.


MIssouri’s §115.359 appears to require a candidate to withdraw “no later than the eleventh Tuesday prior to the general election” — which, if you’re counting, is this Tuesday. Absent some pretty effective lobbying by Missouri Republicans, there’s little chance Rep. Akin will willingly step down before that deadline. And any lobbying won’t have the benefit of poll numbers, as there’s little time to even conduct a poll before Tuesday. Not that it would matter much, as Rep. Akin’s comments won’t have saturated the electorate, meaning any polls wouldn’t measure much (if any) of the eventual impact of his remarks.

If Rep. Akin does withdraw before 5PM on Tuesday, the Republicans in Missouri could nominate someone else pursuant to §115.363(3)(3). In such an event, under §115.369, the party would have two weeks and a day to pick somebody new.

More, and hyperlinks at: http://adamsteinbaugh.com/2012/08/19/can-rep-todd-akin-withdraw-sure-but-its-unlikely/

[Warpy]

1. That ignorant man's ego won't allow it

He still thinks he's absolutely correct about absolutely everything. See: Dunning-Kruger Effect.

I just hope he woke up enough women in Missouri to defeat his ass and retain McCaskill. She's not stellar, but she's a hell of a lot better than he is.

[GoCubsGo]

5. I don't think the teabaggers who nominated him will, either.

They knew what he was like when the voted for him in the primaries. Even his warped ideas about rape were already well-known. They'll be furious if they their guy is forced to step down, because they'll see it as being caused by all those evil liberals attacking him. I don't think he woke up any female teabaggers, but I suspect that many of the independents, male and female, who had given him the edge up until now have.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. I wonder if an "Independent" i.e. Steelman will run a la Murkowski.

[MadHound]

4. That is what all the Republicans and conservatives are scared of,

Brunner or Steelman running a third party operation and splitting the vote, letting McCaskill win easily.

[KansDem]

3. If it's a legitimate withdrawal, then Missouri will reject him.

Missouri has ways to shut him down.

If I'm understanding the concept correctly.

on edit: If it's "illegitimate," then I don't know what happens...

[Capt. Obvious]

6. I see what you did there