Crucial Senate race in uproar

August 21, 2012 at 06:39 AM
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On Sunday, Missouri Rep. Todd Akin secured his place in the Political Blunders Hall of Fame when he stated that women could not get pregnant from "a legitimate rape." Now, GOP party leaders — including Mitt Romney, who called the comment "insulting, inexcusable and, frankly, wrong" — are requesting that he step down from the Senate race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill, which polls indicated he had been leading. Upping the ante, Akin must decide on deadline: a Senate candidate can drop out voluntarily by the 11th Tuesday before the election, which is today, after which a court order is required to resign. Akin has given every indication that he plans to stay in the race.