National and state-level Republicans are working to get Rep. Todd Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race — despite Akin’s insistence he is staying in. But if he does withdraw, his actions will be dictated by an urgent timetable.
Akin’s Sunday statement that rape doesn’t often result in pregnancy initiated a firestorm of condemnation, including calls from powerful voices within the Republican Party for Akin to withdraw.
The first deadline for Akin to pull out of the race with the greatest ease for the state party, is 5 p.m. Central Tuesday, under state law. After that, he would still have until Sept. 25 to withdraw — but would need to petition for a court order, and his campaign would have to pay any additional printing costs for new ballots.
A new candidate would then be chosen by a state party nominating committee — in effect, the state GOP’s central committee. The deadline for that selection would be 28 days after the withdrawal. Thus, if Akin were to withdraw Tuesday, then the GOP’s deadline would be Sept. 18.
A Republican source in Missouri told TPM Monday that potential replacement nominees include: former Sen. Jim Talent, state Auditor Tom Schweich and businessman John Brunner, who finished second to Akin in the GOP primary.
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