Despite increasing pressure from the Republican party, congressman Tod Akins, refused to withdraw from the race to the Senate, stubbornly clinging to the run against Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill.
Earlier on Tuesday, Akins said announced "We are going to continue this race for the U.S. Senate...I am no quitter," as reported by the Washington Post.
It all started Sunday when Akins voiced his opinion on abortion in an interview, "It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that is really rare...If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," as reported on BBC News. But naturally were the comments bound to cause raucous they did not only were they inaccurate but came across as incredibly insensitive.
Almost immediately, prominent republican leaders began ostracizing the 65-year-old. Many Republican leaders have urged him to quit for the sake of the party. Senior Republican officials, including presumed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney who called the comments "insulting, inexcusable, and frankly wrong," as reported by the Washington Post.
The Republican party gave Akins until Tuesday 5.00pm to withdraw from the race, which he refused to do. Now the Republican party is giving the unpopular congressman a second chance i.e. September 25. If Akins complies then his name will be removed from the ballot via a court order. This would give the party two weeks to replace Akins, however if Akins remains defiant the second time around, the Republican Party will have to place another candidate to run as a write-in.
Of course, the party would rather have Akins to bow down and spare further complications for the party.
The head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senator John Cornyn, who has suspended all political support for the congressman and trying best, to distance his party from the unpopular figure said in a statement:
"I recognise this is a difficult time for him, but over the next 24 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," as reported by the Guardian.
On Tuesday he released a "forgiveness" ad campaign, in which he says, "Rape is an evil act...I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologize," as reported by the Washington Post.
Maybe Akins thinks his campaign will abate criticisms and help him regain the support he once had, but his party along with majority of Americans do seem to think so.
