Eleven reasons Akin didn’t quit

It's after 6 p.m., and Todd Akin is still on the Missouri ballot. Why did he remain in the race?

By Jeffrey Smith
Todd Akin (Credit: AP)

Todd Akin declared Tuesday that he would not drop out of the U.S. Senate race in Missouri. Most East Coast journalists and politicos I’ve spoken with cannot fathom how Todd Akin could possibly remain a candidate. As a former Missouri politician who knows Akin, perhaps I can shed some light. Here are 11 reasons why he didn’t quit:

1. He’s 65 and it’s his last shot.
Often, party leaders will ease younger candidates out of races with promises of support for some future nomination. That won’t work with someone who gave up his House seat to run and who clearly doesn’t have a political future if he bows out.

Akin Will Withdraw: What Happens Now?

by Mike Flynn 

Yesterday, Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin went on a local public affairs show in St. Louis with, at most, 12 convalescent viewers and gave birth to the mother of all campaign gaffes in 2012. Responding to a question about rape exceptions to abortion, something asked of every GOP candidate since Roe v Wade, Akin said something about how in "legitimate rapes" pregnancies are very rare. There are at least three serious things wrong with Akin's answer, but let's put those aside for now. His candidacy is over. So, what happens now?