Top Republicans back away from Rep. Akin

By Paige Winfield Cunningham

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Top Republicans on Monday backed away from their own Senate candidate in Missouri after his recent comments on rape and abortion, with the GOP’s top Senate recruiter giving him a day to sort the situation out, but Rep. W. Todd Akin showed no indication he was ready to give in.
“Congressman Akin’s statements were wrong, offensive and indefensible,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Monday. “I recognize that this is a difficult time for him, but over the next twenty-four 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.”