Elections

NRSC chair John Cornyn implies Akin should drop out of Mo. Senate race

Alexis Levinson Political Reporter
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Sen. John Cornyn, Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, implied Monday in a statement that Rep. Todd Akin should drop out of the Missouri Senate race for the sake of his party.

“Congressman Akin’s statements were wrong, offensive, and indefensible. I recognize that this is a difficult time for him, but over the next twenty-four hours, Congressman Akin should carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party, and the values that he cares about and has fought for throughout his career in public service,” Cornyn said in a statement.

Crossroads GPS withdrew its ads from the Missouri race on Monday. Cornyn’s NRSC controls another large purse that could be available to — or withheld from — the race. (RELATED: Crossroads pulls ads in Missouri Senate race after Akin ‘legitimate rape’ comment)

Akin has drawn a firestorm of criticism in the past 24 hours since he said in an interview that abortions in cases of rape were rarely in an issue because “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

The race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill was previously considered a layup for Republicans, but many are suggesting Akin lost the race with that one comment.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown called on Monday for Akin to abandon his Senate nomination.

In an interview with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on his radio show, Akin apologized for the comment, but indicated that he did not plan to drop out of the race, telling Huckabee: “I’m not a quitter.”

Update: CNN has confirmed that the NRSC will not support Akin’s Senate bid moving forward, and reported that the congressman has been made aware of this fact.

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