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| Rep. Todd Akin - R |
Meet
the newest campaign issue for House Democrats: Todd Akin. Akin is not the issue
that the House Republicans or the National Republican Party want.
From
Colorado to New Hampshire to Illinois, Democrats already are using the
incendiary comments about rape made by the Missouri congressman and Republican
Senate candidate as a political bludgeon. In interviews, news releases and
tweets, they’ve blasted Akin for saying victims of “legitimate rape” are able
to naturally prevent pregnancy and tried to tie their opponents to legislation
he’s supported.
Those
moves might only be the beginning, as Akin has so far refused to drop out of
the race despite pleas from top Republicans, including GOP presidential
candidate Mitt Romney, and the widespread condemnation of his remarks.
“People
are disgusted and appalled,” said Joe Mikosi, a Democratic congressional
candidate in suburban Denver, who began tying his opponent, GOP Rep. Mike Coffman,
to Akin within hours of learning about his comments this past Sunday.
Coffman
responded by calling for Akin to leave the race and decrying his rape comments
as “wrong, inappropriate and hurtful to women across the country.”
It’s
a scene repeated in House races nationwide, as Akin’s comments on rape are
playing a role in more than dozen House races in battleground states —
particularly those in which the incumbents joined Akin last year in
co-sponsoring a resolution that would have redefined rape as “forcible rape.”
Most
Democrats and women’s groups objected to such language, because it suggested
there are different severities of rape.
In
New Hampshire, Annie Kuster rapped one of Democrats’ top targets, GOP Rep.
Charlie Bass, saying she was “disappointed” Bass hadn’t yet called for Akin to
leave the Senate race. Bass quickly did so. In Illinois, another Democratic
challenger, Cheri Bustos, called on her opponent, GOP Rep. Bobby Schilling, to
return a $2,000 donation from Akin. Schilling did so and issued a statement
expressing his disgust with Akin’s remarks.
“As
a father, a husband and a close friend to people who have been scarred by the
evils of rape, I could never stand with someone who said something so contrary
to our basic human values,” he said.
In
Wisconsin, Democrat Pat Kreitlow had made an issue of GOP Rep. Sean Duffy’s
support for legislation defining “forcible rape” even before Akin’s comments.
That criticism now has new life, Kreitlow said.
“People
are simply amazed there are elected officials who would take these positions,
to redefine rape,” he said. “We were hearing about it in Wisconsin before Akin
said this, and of course we’re hearing a lot more about it now.”
In
trying to link Akin to their opponents, Democrats are following a time-honored
campaign tradition. When a controversial statement or issue percolates in one
race, the party sensing an opportunity will invariably try and make it an issue
in as many races as possible, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor
at Claremont McKenna College.
In
the swing state of Colorado, voters have twice overwhelmingly defeated ballot
measures that would have outlawed abortion in all cases, and Democratic Sen.
Michael Bennet won a tight Senate contest in 2010 in part by highlighting
Republican Ken Buck’s views on abortion.
