Missouri is placed third in my rankings of worst Republican mistakes of 2010 and 2012, behind only Indiana and Delaware. Despite Missouri placing third, it is probably the best known political gaffe in 2010 and 2012.
Before 2012 many people identified incumbent Senator, Claire McCaskill, as the most vulnerable incumbent in the 2012 cycle, representing a state that had gotten redder since she won her seat in 2006. Then Republicans made the same mistake they made all across the country and chose the weakest candidate, Todd Akin. But here's where the race differed to others, McCaskill and the Democrats helped Akin to win! They identified Akin as the weakest candidate and ran ads calling him a "true conservative", which helped him to win the Republican Primary.
Despite being the weakest candidate, things were going well for Akin, who was steaming ahead in the polls. Some polls even showed him to be up by 11 points! Then came the now infamous interview on the 12th of August when he made hideous comments concerning rape and pregnancy:
Before 2012 many people identified incumbent Senator, Claire McCaskill, as the most vulnerable incumbent in the 2012 cycle, representing a state that had gotten redder since she won her seat in 2006. Then Republicans made the same mistake they made all across the country and chose the weakest candidate, Todd Akin. But here's where the race differed to others, McCaskill and the Democrats helped Akin to win! They identified Akin as the weakest candidate and ran ads calling him a "true conservative", which helped him to win the Republican Primary.
Despite being the weakest candidate, things were going well for Akin, who was steaming ahead in the polls. Some polls even showed him to be up by 11 points! Then came the now infamous interview on the 12th of August when he made hideous comments concerning rape and pregnancy:
"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
As well as being just plain wrong, Akin unleashed upon himself the fury of the female voters. Many Republicans recognised that he had just torpedoed his own campaign and called for him to resign. If Akin stepped down before a certain date then Republicans would be able to install someone else in time for the election. Akin refused and as the date approached they got increasingly vocal in asking him to step down but he stood firm. This was hugely problematic for Republicans as they were now stuck with a candidate who would lose an unloseable seat. Their vocal calls for him to step aside were also not helpful as it meant that everyone in Missouri knew what he had said.
Claire McCaskill went on to beat Todd Akin by 15.5%. Not since 1994 has someone lost the seat that badly. Opps.
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| If Akin hadn't made those ridiculous comments, he likely would be a US Senator right now. source: www.nymag.com |
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