Today's final deadline for embattled Missouri Republican Senate nominee Todd Akin to withdraw from the race is just hours away, and he has scheduled a news conference at 3:00 pm ET.
Is he potentially dropping out of the contest?
Not a chance, his campaign says.
"Staying in the race, as we've said," Ryan Hite, the campaign's communications director, said in a text message to NBC News.
"Just kicking off bus tour today and talking about Missouri Commonsense values as the bus tour title suggests," Hite continued. "Nothin[g] earth shattering."
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According to Akin's campaign website, the Missouri Common Sense Bus Tour launches today and runs through Friday.
*** UPDATE *** Declaring that he "was given a trust" after winning a three-way Republican primary contest in August, Akin this afternoon affirmed he wouldn't quit his senate race.
"Over the period of the last number of weeks, a number of people have asked me, 'Are you quitting, are you dropping out?" Akin told supporters this afternoon. He added, "I don't believe that that is really my decision. The decision was made by the voters of the state of Missouri."
The event, meant to mark the kickoff of Akin's bus tour, was billed as a press conference, though Akin didn't take questions from the media.


adios LOL
Everything that is WRONG with the Republican party today can be attributed to people like Akin. This guy sits on the committee for science in Congress yet disregards science as we know it today.
CA - for once you and I will agree!
Obama/Biden 2012 and get rid of Akin!
Hey DCIA both parties are screwed up in their beliefs to some extent. If you believe otherwise, i say baahhhaaaa
If he was smart he'd call it the Missouri Condomsense values tour.
Trojan Man could drive the bus.
IF he was smart.
Enjoy your next term Claire.
Well it looks like the wheels will start coming off the bus today! Mr. Akin should get a thank you card from the local Democrats for making their job so much easier. I can see one of his future quotes now "Science? We don't need no stinkin science here!".
Fortunately for him, when subjected to legitimate scrutiny, his brain is actually able to shut down, yet still allow his mouth to fully function. Isn't the human body incredible?
If by chance he isn't elected, I understand that Mr. Peanut is retiring and they are looking for another NUT, and he is extremely well qualified for that position!
Ceasar -- Republicans are more screwed up. ; )
The Republican WAR ON WOMEN CONTINUES!
Good news for Democrats, apparently.
I don't care who wins the MO race for MOs sake, but I do care that we have non-cave men representing the nation in the US senate. Akin is a disservice to the US and the Republican party.
lol, really. The repubs have legitimate magical trap doors in their brains.
Love it.
It looks like they did.
Akin is the face of the new-and-improved Republican Party. Ignorant, intolerant, hateful, and dishonest. This is exactly why the GOP is being crushed in this election.
When it comes to comparing, I don't know who is worse, Stupid Akin for making such a stupid remark, or our President for taking this country towards Socialism.
I wont vote for either of them.
To FlaNative55 (Post #1.5)
Thanks much for my big laugh of the day with your funny post !! You should be a Political Comedian.
If Akin by any miracle wins, then the voters, who selected him apparently had the same lobotomy as Akin and the rest of the Republican Party.
Looks like Concern Citizen had the sane Republican lobotomy, too?
Just what everyone in Missouri needed most - an Akin R. Sole for its junior senator.
Witchking
yep and my comments are dumb. Eowyen is looking for you
Perhaps in the election he will prove a Trojan, and will have the last laugh.
ksw62118
How dare you speak for most of the people in MO????
"General Election"....PEOPLE VOICES.....PEOPLE POWER....
Which obama are you voting for? http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2012/09/25/obama_versus_obama/page/full/
Akin is the perfect representation of the ENTIRE Republican party. Notice how Republicans may say is was a stupid "remark", yet none of them disagree with the concept of forcing women to carry rape babies. They agree with the overall concept, yet disagree on how it was communicated.
THIS is the Republican party. THIS is who they are. THIS is what they believe.
Even though I am a democratic who is voting a straight republican ticket the Nov., if this IDIOT were running in my area of the country I'd have to vote the curve and vote AGAINST THIS FRIGGIN IDIOT. HE NEEDS TO CRAWL BACK UNDER THE ROCK HE CAME FROM!!
The unfortunate thing, as I am a Missouri resident, is that this Senatorial race is much like the Presidential race... Neither candidate is worth a damn.
Akin Camp: We are staying in the race... in other words we are going to legitimately rape you over and over again, but do not worry, your body will shut down and you will not get pregnant.
I do not beleive that the people in the deepest darkest parts of the jungles of this earth are as backwards in their thinking as Mr. Akin. New Slogan for Mr. Akin. "VOTE FOR ME I'M NUTS!
sharri ...with the forever fake...Oh I am a democratic voting straight repub....as if that would EVER happen.........That crossover does not exist on this planet....But at least...you realize how toxic AKIN IS. Congrats on that issue. Repubs have war on women. Ryan leads the way as he is like peanut butter is to jelly with his pal Akin!
@bdjb
We seem to be getting that a lot lately, same thing in '08 in the presidental election.
I'm from Missouri and I can assure that he does NOT represent all the people of our state. He believes in his values, but is not smart enough to know that you cannot enforce those values on the women of this state.
Women vote and he will lose. Badly.
@starsailing
this is the first time I have ever commented to you and this is because you are not opened minded and no matter what anyone comments if it is different than your opinion...you just seem to lose it and call them liars or whatever. I don't give a damn if you believe me of not about what party I belong to.
To all of you liberal dems. It is absolutely amazing how you like to cast negative comments at others. Considering the history of the democratic party being the party of segragation and the KKK, it is really funny to see how you think you are better than everyone else.
I won't defend Mr. Akin. However, I really find the superior attitude ironic.
As a Republican, how can you call him an idiot, or disagree with him? He represents everything that the Republican party stands for.
And can you, today, find any honest Democrat who will defend the KKK or segregation?
Or do you expect us to defend ideals we are specifically against? I guess you do.
The real problem with Todd Akin is not just that his opinion runs counter to science, but that his general point of view denigrates women. The thought process that results in a belief that somehow there are different types of rape is exactly the problem with the GOP today.
Any belief system that results in the thought that a woman is not capable of controlling her own body, her own finances, or that she is anything except a fully functioning adult human being is not acceptable. Aside from being insulting, it is just wrong. You don't have to look to the words of the party, look at what bills they have passed and the party platform
Anyone that votes a straight ticket, Repub or Dem, is not open minded.
if akin had a BRAIN, he'd take it out and PLAY with it. IDIOT...
Todd Akin is the epitome of an egotist. He put his own self interest above his party. Every republican candidate in the race had higher poll numbers than Senator McCaskill. Once he made his unsubstantiated, idiotic remark, he should have stepped aside.
This is not just the race for the senate seat of Missouri. It is the race for which party leads the Senate. It promises 4 more years of gridlock in Congress all because Todd Akin thinks he is self important.
Congrats, Senator McCaskill!
OH Boy!!! Looks like six more for Claire. Thanks, Mr. Akins!
Sorry guys but most here in MO don't like Claire either even if she wins by default. Actually both need to go.
Then I would recommend telling your state's GOP leaders that next time they need to prop up a candidate who is not so ignorant, slimy, and misogynistic.
ksw62118 - when you say most here in MO...you mean most here in MO who think like you, right? Because polls have McCaskill up by 5%, so I'd say most in MO actually do like her.
ksw - I'm a Missourian who doesn't much care for Claire either. But I DO want a Democrat to keep the seat, and don't want a crazy ass like Akin representing me. This is a gift to the people of Missouri, and evidence that we're not all bat guano insane.
Just moved a couple of years ago from St Louis, have to agree about Claire, but that is not saying that she is bad at what she does... sometimes hard choices don't win you votes.
The hits just keep coming! You stay Akin, don't let them run you off.
Obama/Biden 2012
Ursula no that is what you get when you poll only Democrats. People will hold their nose and vote for her or not vote at all.
@ksw
we had the same problem here in Nevada, vote for Reid or Angles, didn't like either one, it was like being between a rock and a hard place.
Good for you Akin!! Don't be a quitter just because your party is freaking out that you actually said what they all believe anyway!!! Stand strong and on election night I will be ELATED to see you loooooose!
mayamomma. I agree with you on "his party is freaking out that he actually said (out loud) and what they (some) believe anyway!!!"
On the way to work this morning, I was listening to talk radio, and heard an Akin supporter say, "he had chosen his word poorly" and we cannot judge him based on a 60 second snippet? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I don't care if it was only 60 seconds....it was quite possibly the most ignorant, callous thing I have ever heard from ANY politician. His thought process needs to be relegated to the trash bin of history.
This is a continual problem that I have been hearing this election cycle. Oh he chose his words poorly or I didn't say it eloquently enough. Listen, the problem isn't HOW you said it, the problem is WHAT YOU SAID!!!
Don't forget "elegantly" too. Referring to dissing about half the population.
Republican philosophy; don't think for yourself, just believe what we tell you. If we say something that shows our true opinions, thoughts and character, wait until we tell you if you're allowed to believe it. We are your priests, we will tell you what you may believe.
Robert....and then we'll LEGISLATE it for you too....so you dont even have to think, just obey.
What do Iran's Ahmadinejad and Missouri's Akin have common?
They're both noisy @!$%#s.
Robert Warner: That would actually be the dems philosophy. Republicans just ask you to do things for your self. Be self reliant. The libs and the dems want to think for you and have you live in a nanny state.
So - the idea that the woman's body has a way of shutting down after a "legitimate" rape is part of that self reliance, is it, rusthand?
Stating things like "nanny state" is not only a lie, it gives us exact proof of who is programming your brain cell.
Here is a little clue in your espoused "self reliance", rusthand...try thinking for yourself.
He's a 'legitimate' contender!! Voters have a way of shutting those things down.
Could we say that a child born to a couple who decided to entertain themselves in a rape that was not legitimate, illegitimate?
Yeah! Stay in the race, and don't forget to get lots of advice from Gingrich!
Or Foster (between-the-knees) Friess.
Todd Akin is an IGNORANUS - stupid and an @!$%# to boot.
Defeat from the Jaws of Victory...Senate edition...
He's Akin...
...and his party's "hurtin'"
Will Rogers would have a field day, now that Republicans are as "organized" as Democrats...
x
Akin is an albatross that has not fully rotted from around the neck of the GOPeaParty.
Paul Ryan would be a stellar example of someone that thinks exactly like Akin. Pauly is just a better liar.
I owe something to Mr. Akin. If it wasn't for him, I would not know that I have a magical trap door in my body that SHUTS all by itself and prevents pregnancy if I was raped. Thank God a white male old republican taught me that. Go figure.
Todd is merely showing us how to legitimately rape your own campaign.
Looks like the GOP will have to carry Akin's baby.
A clear demonstration of the triumph of self-interest over commitment to the good of the country.
Thank you Todd Akin. Democrats like me are counting on stupid Republicans like you to help us keep the Senate. Much obliged.
I don't blame you Rep. Akin.....stay in the race.... after-all you're a little more straight-forward than your Republican leader Gov Romney....
........"legitimate rape"........ a slip of the tongue.......
........"legitimate election"......calls for "legitimate voters"........
.............What a bam bam when this rice cannot swell!!!............
Why should he drop out now when he probably has so many more idiotic things to say while he has an audience? He might be sedated once they cart him away to the home after the election and we would miss out on all the good humor.
Akin on a "Common Sense" bus tour?! I assume he's looking for common sense as he certainly has none to share.
so you're saying it's more like a common sense expedition?
Missouri voters, please give this gentleman what he so richly deserves....a spot in the unemployment line.
Sorry, no entitlement programs.....
Is there any question left as to why Missouri is (one of?) the poorest state in the nation, and that the northern states must pay extra taxes to support it's citizens?
Can we now say that this guy is "legitimately in this race"?
He's a legitimate idiot.
Thank-you Akin you legitimate idiot. But watch out for Karl Rove and crossroads money, to move in and flood the airwaves with ads. Just like they did in Wisconsin.
Sounds like there should be a bad country song written about this turd blossom.....
"bad", "country song";
Redundant.
I was trying to be diplomatic but then again I called him a turd blossom.......
YAAAY! GO CLAIRE!!!
:)
:)
:)
I believe he did misspeak...he meant what he said, he just didn't mean to say it the way he did. (and we all heard it!)
Thank you Aiken for staying in the race.
Your presence simply continues to articulate the hypocrisy, bigotry and assisinity of the the GOP.
Run Todd - run. I know you'll continue to comfort and assure women that "legitmate rape rarely results in pregnancy".
You're an embarrassment.
So many republican women seem to agree with Akin...just hold your eggs tight ladies and enjoy the rape has become the new cry from the right...Mrs. Gomers
Lots of good comments folks, but remember, teapubs and republicants don't give a crap about anything but their wealthy handlers, their money, and their stupid immoral veneer. When half the state/country votes for fools like this, we are in trouble. altho, a repub associate of mine said yesterday morning that he had heard enough from romney, he just could not vote for him, I hope he meant it. He asked (rhetorically)How could any woman vote for that guy? Of course same goes with this nitwit Akin, but they do????