4 reasons the GOP desperately wants Todd Akin to drop out

The embattled Missouri Senate hopeful is vowing to hang on — even as his party gives him several fierce kicks toward the door

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), surrounded by his family, announces his candidacy for Senate in May 2011: Now, the embattled Akin has until 5 p.m. on Aug. 21 to drop out of the race without a court b
(Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

It seems like just about every Republican but Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) wants Todd Akin to drop out of the race to unseat vulnerable Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) — after all, his preposterous comments about the contraceptive powers of "legitimate rape" could cost the GOP control of the Senate. Still, Akin is holding firm. He told conservative radio hosts Sean Hannity and Mike Huckabee on Monday that he's staying in the race, and begged voters for forgiveness in a new ad. Indeed, a PPP "flash poll" Monday night still found him ahead of McCaskill, 44 percent to 43 percent. Tuesday evening is the cutoff for Akin to bow out of the race without having to go to court, and several high-profile Republican lawmakers, candidates, and financial backers, as well as conservative heavyweights like Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, and the editors of National Review, are stridently urging him to meet that deadline. Aside from the obvious reason — in spite of the flash poll, Akin could lose — here are four explanations for why Republicans so desperately want Akin to quit:

1. He's a drag on the national ticket

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