Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s comment over the weekend about “legitimate rape” has rendered him unelectable in his bid against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. As such, the race moves to the Likely Democratic column.While there is little doubt that McCaskill is the most vulnerable incumbent seeking re-election this cycle, Akin managed in just two words to alienate many of the voters he needs to win in November. Moreover, his candidacy has been disavowed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which would have provided needed funding for the race, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus. Several Republican U.S. Senators, many of his fellow nominees in Senate contests across the country, and a handful of conservative commentators like Sean Hannity and Erick Erickson have all suggested – some subtlety and a few very directly –that Akin end his campaign. Crossroads GPS, which has already spent millions on television ads attacking McCaskill, announced that it would no longer invest in the race as long as Akin is the nominee. Despite all these clear indications that Akin should
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