Karl Rove: Rep. Akin Should Leave Race After ‘Deplorable’ Comments
Karl Rove is urging Rep. Todd Akin to step aside after his comments claiming that the female body can prevent pregnancy in the case of legitimate rape have drawn criticism across the nation. Akin has vowed to remain in the Missouri Senate race.
During an appearance on Happening Now, Rove stressed, “If he cares about the future of his state, I think the right thing to do is step aside and give someone else a chance to win the seat.”
Rove said that Akin has little chance of recovering after such comments, saying, “After those damaging statements, I mean to try and differentiate between what’s a legitimate rape and an illegitimate rape and believing somehow that a woman’s body would reject a pregnancy if it was an illegitimate rape … These were reprehensible and deplorable comments.”
Akin can withdraw from the race tonight by 5p, at which point the Missouri Republican Central Committee would choose someone to replace him on the ballot. Should he decide to remain in the race, Rove’s group Crossroads won’t provide the $5 million in support funds the group originally planned to spend on the candidate.
“There’s no way he can recover in my opinion, so our group decided if he remains the nominee, there’s no reason to throw good money after bad by trying to win this seat,” Rove said.
