The Democrats thought they had a silver bullet with Todd Akins’ “legitimate rape” comment in explaining why he does not support a rape exception in regard to abortion. Akin was inarticulately attempting to distinguish forcible rape from statutory rape where consent is given. He also, once again inarticulately, was attempting to state something that I believe is true: women under stress are less likely to conceive than women who aren’t. Never mind. Akin became a cause celebre for a few weeks and seemed to be the poster child for the Democrat’s War on Women Meme. He was left as road kill by the Republicans.  Vastly underfunded in comparison to his opponent, he stayed in the race, fought it out and has battled back to a statistical dead heat.   With Romney poised to win Missouri by double digits next Tuesday, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take the Senate seat from the highly unpopular Claire McCaskill.
Akin Comeback?
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 41 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I speculated elsewhere that there could be reverse Bradley effect at work in this race as people responding to pollsters might be wary of admitting they are voting for Akin, but when faced with the choice of re-electing McCaskill, ultimately will pull the lever for him.
I will wager that if the GOP establishment had any nerve or loyalty to social conservatives, this would have blown over much more quickly. I am hoping the voters of Missouri stick a thumb in their poltroonish little eyes.