In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, ostracized Congressman Todd Akins diligently evaded all questions on meeting the Republican Party's September 25 deadline for quitting the race to the senate on account of his "legitimate rape."
"It makes me uncomfortable that Party bosses are going to dictate who runs," the 65-year-old Missouri candidate said. Even after Stephanopoulos repeatedly tried to extract a simple yes or no, Akins maintained, "people in Missouri chose me to be their candidate and I don't think it's right for Party bosses (to ask him to quit)... allow things to just stand," as reported by ABC News.
In fact, Akin said that he still believes that he has a very good chance of winning, telling Stephanopoulos that since the "contrast between my opponent and me are so great," that the voters will have a clear choice, he added "I am planning to win it."
However, Akin did say that he would not be attending the Republican National Convention, that he "honors their (GOP Party) wishes," the Party has been persistent in its pursuit to distance itself from Akins in light that he might cost them the Senate.
Tuesday evening, despite increasing pressure from the Republican Party, Akins refused to withdraw from the race to the Senate, stubbornly deciding to continue his race 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.
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. He reiterated in the interview that "I know I hurt people and I apologize for that, but I am not apologizing for being prolife," on ABC's Good Morning America.
Watch the interview here.
