Todd's Dilemma ---I'm SO Sorry & Asks for forgiveness; Emerson on standby

“Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize. As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault. I pray for them,The fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims.”

“The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness.”



Will Akin step down?

According to MO Law he had until 5PM today to step down. The Missouri Republican Party will then chose a replacement.

Randy Turner, writer of The Turner Report,

In a post published this morning in the Turner Report, GOP ready to replace Akin with Emerson, Turner lays out some scenarios on who would, who could replace Akin should he decide to step aside:

High-ranking Missouri GOP officials were not surprised when former Sen. Jim Talent begged off on the opportunity for a rematch with Claire McCaskill, who ended his Senate career six years ago.

Talent has bigger and better things on his mind since he appears likely to hold a key position in the administration if Mitt Romney is elected president.

The Republicans are faced with the delicate task of selecting a replacement candidate for Todd Akin, who appears bound and determined to remain on the ballot.

If the pressure being applied on Akin to drop out of the race is successful, a candidate has to be ready to go and that is where the jockeying has started in the past few days.

From all appearances, it looks likely that if Akin leaves the race, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson will take his place.

Considering the position Akin's "legitimate" rape comments have put the party in, combined with the damaged Peter Kinder, whose dalliance with strippers is bound to come up again in the next several weeks, GOP officials think a respected female candidate is their best bet to regain a Senate seat that once seemed inevitable.

Emerson is not the only one whose credentials are being examined.

Published reporters indicate that St. Louis businessman John Brunner, who finished second to Akin in the primary has been talking about, but it appears that most of the talk is coming from Brunner. GOP officials are not thrilled by the prospect of having a candidate who could not win a primary against weak opposition while spending $8 million of his own money.

There is absolutely no consideration being given to the third candidate, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. Party officials want someone who will play ball and Mrs. Steelman is considered to be a maverick.

As always, State Auditor Tom Schweich's name is brought up, but there are someone with GOP circles who think Schweich is not ready for prime time and may never be.

Ann Wagner, who decided to forego a run at the Senate, instead seeking a Congressional seat, has an interest in the Senate, but many felt she had her chance to enter the race and blew it.

Meanwhile, Akin is still on the ballot and stands a reasonable chance of winning. On the other hand, and this is the scenario the Republicans fear the most, the presence of Akin and Kinder on the ballot, plus the statewide popularity that Gov. Jay Nixon has enjoyed, could leave the Republican Party with only Mitt Romney in the state winners circle in November.

Even with a new candidate, the Republicans are wary of Claire McCaskill. She almost beat Matt Blunt, she took down Talent, and polls do have a tendency to change.

The problem is that each of these candidates have baggage.

Bruner would seem to be the logical chose, he came in second in the primary but, as Turner points out, he spent millions of dollars and couldn't win, how would he fare against McCaskill.

Steelman? She's out, she doesn't take direction and her husband is a trial lawyer.

Talent says he doesn't want it.

Ann Wagner-- she had her chance and blew plus there was that nasty row with Ed Martin.

JoAnne Emerson? She's got rape problems of her own. She was a co-sponsor along with Long, Luetekemeyer, Graves, Akin, and Paul Ryan of HR3-- you know, the 'forcible rape' bill.

Remember-- EVERY GOP house member voted in favor of HR3. Every. Single. One.

John Ashcroft and Kit Bond have been mentioned at fill-ins. Ashcroft lost to a dead man and Kit's too old.

Could Akin stay in the race? Yes. He thinks he's on a mission from God and he has a strong base,especially here in MO7.

He may stay.

Billy Long knows who the pick will be if Akin bows out. Frequent Bus riders have noticed that he ain't saying too much about this affair or the beach party. (What did you guys do over that made Cantor so mad?)

If Billy took my calls but I'm not Tara Sukman and he doesn't, I would ask him who the pick will be.

The phone lines and email messages have been flowing like hot lava I'll bet!

May Tara will call Billy and get back to me.