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Pressure intensifies for Rep. Akin to withdraw Senate bid

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    Candidate issues online apology for 'legitimate rape' comment

  • Duration 4:19
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We'll have online apology this morning up from Missouri congressman tied -- can.

For comment said that he made about rape.

But calls for him to withdraw from his senate race continue to intensify the deadline to do that.

Is 5 o'clock today so watch this when folks we could have breaking news on at this hour.

As we start a brand new hour of America's Newsroom -- hey everybody I'm -- I'm Bill Hemmer good morning nice to be back refusing to have you back out on the bit of -- delay today but I'll I'll I'll catch up in your time you let that ride a bike thank you were a kid who had been locked in a tight race for democratic senator Claire McCaskill.

Under fire from members of his own party Mitt Romney calling the comments inexcusable.

But the congressman has made it clear he has no plans to step aside telling Sean Hannity on radio that he believes constituents.

Will forgive him.

I think that there's an awful lot of still people believe in mercy and forgiveness and God's love I made a single error in one sentence.

Are they did the Democrats or certain people warm water forget that -- wanna try to use that as a political weapon.

But I think that the people of Missouri are big enough.

Not to take a look at the overall package and say hey you know this so Obama is about to break our country and Claire McCaskill is rubber stamp for him.

It's so -- you read -- all that Bob Cusack is the managing editor of the hill Bob welcome.

I eat I seems to me that Democrats and constituents in Missouri may be or not the people that congressman a -- mister Aiken -- is -- to worry about this case.

Yeah I mean this is just a nightmare for the Republican Party and they wanna be talking about the economy as -- Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

And this is deftly playing the Democrats and that -- have this enormous pressure from from all factions of the Republican Party leaders in Washington the head of the RNC.

Calling for Aiken to step aside -- but.

If he's stubborn and he has stood up to pressure before about a decade ago he was lobbied heavily to to vote for on a Medicare drug bill.

By President Bush he voted now seldom uses stood up to pressure before but this any mistakes here are enormous -- I mean you have the control of the senate.

Hanging in the balance perhaps this is just.

-- bad date for the GOP if he stays in.

Yeah it is one of those situations where it becomes more it becomes much bigger -- the statement because you point out -- so many ramifications.

And it doesn't really I need to know in some ways that -- -- -- very much wants him to stay in this race.

-- package she now feels like he's been able would be act as a suggestion there and you know Republicans American crossroads has pulled their money out from Akins.

Campaign.

That's gotta hurt.

You know in everybody's really looking at the bigger political picture here and what's at stake yes.

I mean if you go back to 2008 a pres Obama won 365.

Electoral vote but he lost Missouri itself.

This is this this is a seat that Republicans are expected to win or -- were expected to win before these comments and everyone.

Every politician at some point they make some type of -- but this is one Republican that you're shaking your head like.

I'm pretty say such.

Now and you know Claire McCaskill was one of the early ones as I remember to say that she wasn't gonna make it to the DNC she is distanced herself in many way is.

From this administration in an effort to try to win this race that has -- been in trouble at home.

You know I mean is there any talk at this point about a -- does drop out who would replace him and whether or not that person might be you know a good contender.

Yeah -- -- actually been talked whether some some the Republicans that made in the primary Sarah Steelman businessmen John Brunner.

There's also been some talk of -- Emerson who serves in house the party can pick.

Who would replace -- if he steps aside.

But they've got to get to that point and he has until 5 o'clock today and it that it becomes little more complicated after that he can still get out but.

But the easiest decision for the Republicans would be for him.

To bow out and I'm sure Aiken is getting a lot more phone calls today after -- -- quick disease there it is -- and terms of how you're reading the tea leaves and Washington right now.

I think the I think he's probably going to step aside just because.

He's gonna get so many phone calls today and they know I even if he does stay in.

Today he can get out later so maybe he sees how the polls go and and help petition.

The state get him off about the act at some point I think he bows out sounds like it tries to stand in standing pretty -- yes thank you so much Bottke Saturday.

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