Missouri: What Happens if Todd Akin Drops Out

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

If Rep. Todd Akin (R) does drop his Missouri Senate bid within the next 24 hours, as the GOP establishment is pressuring him to do, at least his timing will be impeccable.

Missouri state law allows a nominated candidate to withdraw his or her bid for office by 5 p.m. on the 11th Tuesday before the election which, as it turns out, is tomorrow. If Akin does drop his bid before tomorrow’s deadline, the state’s GOP central committee would pick his replacement.

This statutory fact alone is why Republicans — from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) — are coalescing around a 24-hour ultimatum. Full story

Missouri: Pressure Builds for Todd Akin to Step Aside

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 6 p.m. | Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin apologized for his controversial remarks about “legitimate rape” today, as top Republicans ramped up calls for him to step aside as the GOP nominee.

In the clearest sign yet that pressure is being exerted on Akin to leave the race, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) issued a statement saying the Congressman has 24 hours to make a decision on what’s “best for him, his family, the Republican Party, and the values that he cares about” and to “carefully consider” his options. A GOP source also confirmed that the NRSC is prepared to pull its $5 million ad reservation if Akin does not drop out of the contest.

“Congressman Akin’s statements were wrong, offensive, and indefensible,” Cornyn said. Full story

Republicans Pile On Criticism of Todd Akin’s Rape Comment

Sen. Scott Brown (above) called on Rep. Todd Akin to relinquish his Senate nomination after his controversial remarks about rape. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

On day two of the media firestorm around Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Mo.) comments about rape, the Republican Senate nominee is discovering that his harshest critics are not Democrats, but members of his own party.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) was restrained in her criticism of her opponent this morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” The incident has breathed new life into her campaign for re-election.

Instead, it is Republicans in tough fall races who are piling on:

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Missouri: Todd Akin’s ‘Legitimate Rape’ Comment Ignites Firestorm

Rep. Todd Akin's comments about abortion, even in instances of rape, set off a media firestorm today. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, justified his opposition to all abortion, even in instances of rape, by saying that “legitimate rape” rarely leads to pregnancy — comments that have set off a media firestorm in an already contentious race.

In an interview with a St. Louis television station posted today, Akin said that female bodies “[have] ways to try to shut that whole thing down” and that only rapists, and not unborn children, should be punished.

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV, in an interview first reported nationally by Talking Points Memo. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Full story

Michigan: DCCC Starts Airing Ads in 1st District

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will air its first spot of the fall election season today, when it targets freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R) with an independent expenditure.

House Democrats beat the National Republican Congressional Committee to the punch in the fall advertisement wars. The NRCC confirmed last week it would start airing advertisements for the fall campaign on Friday in four House districts.

Benishek faces his 2010 opponent, former state Rep. Gary McDowell (D), this November. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

The committee will spend $73,000 to air this spot through Labor Day, according to a source familiar with the buy. This buy is in addition to the DCCC’s $515,000 reservation in television time in the 1st district through Election Day.

Minnesota: Rick Nolan Wins Democratic Nod in Comeback Bid

Former Rep. Rick Nolan (D) this evening came one step closer to returning to Congress after a 32-year hiatus when he won his party’s nomination in the 8th district.

Nolan led former state Sen. Tarryl Clark, 40 percent to 32 percent, with 80 percent of precincts reporting.

Nolan’s victory sets him up to face freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) this November. The 8th district is highly competitive, and both parties have reserved millions of dollars in airtime for the Minneapolis market for this contest and adjacent races.

Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

Nolan struggled with fundraising throughout the primary but prevailed in part with some financial help from the state party. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party aired almost $160,000 in television spots on Nolan’s behalf.

The party backed Nolan over Clark earlier this year.

New Mexico: Martin Heinrich Expands Lead in Democratic Poll

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A poll conducted for a coalition of environmental and conservation organizations found that Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) has expanded his lead over former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) in the race for New Mexico’s open Senate seat. Full story

Minnesota: DFL, Bill Clinton at Odds in Democratic Primary

Rep. Chip Cravaack awaits the winner of Minnesota's 8th district Democratic primary. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

If there’s one primary to watch in the Gopher State today, it’s the Democratic contest in the 8th district, where three candidates are facing off for the right to challenge freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) this November.

Cravaack’s district represents the Democrats’ best shot at picking up a seat in Minnesota. Roll Call rates the 8th district race as a Tossup.

The district also features the most contentious primary on the ballot.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party backed former Rep. Rick Nolan (D) for the seat earlier this year. The party recently started airing advertisements on his behalf. But Nolan’s fundraising has struggled despite the support of the delegation.

Meanwhile, former state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D) has raised money at a fast clip. She’s also buoyed by an endorsement from President Bill Clinton, who is featured in her latest spot.

Most Democrats expect Nolan or Clark to prevail, although Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson is also running.

New Hampshire: Ann McLane Kuster Goes on the Air

Democrat Ann McLane Kuster has released her first television advertisement in her bid to oust Rep. Charles Bass (R) in the 2nd district.

The 30-second spot attempts to emphasize crossover appeal and personal frugality. According to a source, this is “a full buy on WMUR and in Boston.”

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House Democrats Elated by Paul Ryan Pick. Should They Be?

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said the party couldn't be more pleased with the contrast created by Rep. Paul Ryan's elevation to vice presidential nominee. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

If voters aren’t familiar yet with the “the Ryan budget,” they will be soon — and House Democrats couldn’t be happier about it.

Democrats already banked on using House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan’s (Wis.) proposed Medicare cuts as their primary attack point against the House GOP this fall, when the party faces tough odds in winning back the majority.

This morning, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney promoted the budget’s author to the national ticket — effectively making the plan a household name. An elated Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee encouraged its candidates to start shooting out press releases overnight.

“I just nominated Mitt Romney to be one of the DCCC’s newest Majority Makers,” DCCC Chairman Steve Israel (N.Y.) said today in a phone interview. “He may have handed the majority to us with his choice of Paul Ryan. The Ryan budget is a debate we know we win — and Mitt Romney just nationalized the debate.”

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Illinois: Jason Plummer Poll Shows Him With Double-Digit Lead

A new poll from businessman Jason Plummer’s campaign shows the GOP nominee leading by double digits in the open 12th district.

Plummer had 45 percent and retired Maj. Gen. William Enyart (D) received 28 percent in the Public Opinion Strategies poll.

The retirement of Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) created an open-seat race in this downstate district. It’s a competitive race, and Roll Call rates it as a Tossup. Full story

Rhode Island: David Cicilline Goes Up With First TV Ad

Rep. David Cicilline (D) went on the air with a positive TV ad that stresses his office’s work in constituent services.

The buy is at least five figures and will be on broadcast television during the Olympics.

Full story

Minnesota: Mark Dayton Endorses Rick Nolan in 8th District

Gov. Mark Dayton (D) endorsed former Rep. Rick Nolan (D) in his comeback bid in the 8th district.

“I am proud to endorse and I enthusiastically support Rick Nolan for Congress,” Dayton said in a statement. “We need more than a ‘good vote’ in a Congress. We need a proven leader who can get past the partisan gridlock and get things done.”

Nolan is engaged in a spirited primary with former state Sen. Tarryl Clark. The winner will face Rep. Chip Cravaack (R) in the fall. Clark picked up an endorsement from President Bill Clinton last week.

Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

New Mexico: DSCC Targets Wilson in TV Ad

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee slammed the voting record of former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) in its first TV ad in the New Mexico Senate race.

The spot, launched today, accuses Wilson of supporting corporate tax breaks that helped to send jobs to China and India. Wilson faces Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) in a competitive race to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D). Full story

Democratic House Majority Super PAC Releases Polls Showing Leads in Utah, Maryland

Rep. Jim Matheson (right) leads Mia Love in Utah's 4th district race, according to a poll released by the House Majority PAC. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, released two polls this morning that indicate Democrats are well-positioned in high-profile races in Utah and Maryland.

In the tossup race for Utah’s 4th, 51 percent of respondents said they would vote for Rep. Jim Matheson (D), while 33 percent supported Mia Love (R). In the Maryland 6th district survey, businessman John Delaney (D) had the support of 44 percent of those polled, while 42 percent said they would vote for Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R). The difference is within the poll’s margin of error.

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