LCJ
NRSC chief John Cornyn: Akin can’t win
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said on Thursday that he does not intend to put money into the race of controversial Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin.
“We have no plans to do so,” Cornyn told The Courier-Journal in an interview just a short time ago.
“I just think that this is not a winnable race,” he said. “We have to make tough calculations based on limited resources and where to allocate it, where it will have the best likelihood of electing a Republican senator.”











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akin is toxic.
nathor on September 28, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Hey, John. If you feel that way, fine. But keep it to yourself. You don’t throw your own candidate under the bus like that when by all accounts it IS still a winnable race.
I really hope a quality Tea Party challenger runs against Cornyn in 2014, cuz I can’t wait to primary his ass. And it’s Texas so you know Cornyn can be beat.
Doughboy on September 28, 2012 at 2:19 PM
NRSC chief John Cornyn: Akin can’t win… and we’ll make certain of that.
Fallon on September 28, 2012 at 2:19 PM
You don’t say!
Gatsu on September 28, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Thanks John, Claire-bear was needing some ad material…**FACEPALM**
hillsoftx on September 28, 2012 at 2:20 PM
He can win if you keep your mouth shut John.
Cornyn needs to be primaried ASAP.
commodore on September 28, 2012 at 2:20 PM
Akin is in, we’re stuck with him, and we need the seat. Just go negative on McCaskill; enough negative advertising usually means lower voter turnout which is a good thing in a red state like Missouri.
Daemonocracy on September 28, 2012 at 2:21 PM
Way to go Corn-hole.
CorporatePiggy on September 28, 2012 at 2:22 PM
Not helping.
Othniel on September 28, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Dear Republican Leadership, Pundits/Chattering Class,
If you’re not going to do anything to help. Just STFU.
Thanks
HumpBot Salvation on September 28, 2012 at 2:23 PM
Yep. Until the GOP mount a write in candidate then STFU.
It should be standard to see which of these clowns have earned the right to be primaried and this one should be on the top of the list.
kim roy on September 28, 2012 at 2:23 PM
By “all accounts” you mean PPP’s manipulative polling, of course.
Not only is Missouri not a winnable race, but for the NRSC to flush money down the Akin toilet would taint the NRSC and every one of the other Senate candidates who receive money from them. If Akin wants to throw away a winnable race, that’s unfortunately his decision, but there’s no sense in letting him drag the rest of the GOP down with him.
Caiwyn on September 28, 2012 at 2:23 PM
This.
Bitter Clinger on September 28, 2012 at 2:23 PM
FIFM
HumpBot Salvation on September 28, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Says the man who endorse Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio before Florida even had it’s nomination vote.
Cindy Munford on September 28, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Cornyn is a moron.
Schadenfreude on September 28, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Count me in! Cornyn has proven his uselessness.
cartooner on September 28, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Didn’t he say the same thing about Marco Rubio against Crist?
I wish I could understand the NRSC’s strategy this season. They seem to be focusing more on Maine than they are some of these other, more winnable races. As much as I would’ve liked to have seen Akin leave the race, and as much as I think his indefensible comments probably cost him the seat, it’s still relatively close. Obama is very weak in MO, as is McCaskill, and we need every seat we can get. The Dems have already been using him to tar and feather the other GOP candidates, so you don’t really lose anything by at least running some attack ads against McCaskill.
changer1701 on September 28, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Thinly disguised Cornyn sure did love the idea of thinly disguised Charlie Crist for senator, though.
Buddahpundit on September 28, 2012 at 2:31 PM
I hope Akin wins, if for no other reason than Cornyn and company will have to kiss his ass for 6 years.
Voting to repeal O-care would be nice too.
Rixon on September 28, 2012 at 2:31 PM
It’s a tough question to respond to.
What is known, but unspeakable, is that the GOP has to be VERY careful about supporting Akin. There’s more to lose nationally than there is to gain in Missouri by supporting Akin.
I’m not sure I trust that Akin is really that close. McCaskill (the Dem incumbant) is very unpopular, so I guess it’s possible. But it still seems like the GOP is being baited into changing its position on Akin and supporting him.
He’s got to win this one on his own. As least, as far as the general public knows.
connertown on September 28, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Akin’s biggest mistake was not having his ACU record scrubbed and replaced with something showing a number south of 50.
astonerii on September 28, 2012 at 2:34 PM
I have no problem with this. This was a gimmie seat that wasn’t going to require a lot of money. Now, Akin expects us to bail him out because he was too arrogant and selfish to get out? We told him he wasn’t going to get any money in hopes he would get out. He gave us the finger and stayed in, and he’s now holding out his hand.
And, suppose we were to spend money on him, what’s the guarantee he doesn’t say something else catastrophically stupid and waste all the money we threw at him? I hope he wins, but I see no point in throwing him a lifeline.
The Count on September 28, 2012 at 2:35 PM
wait a minute, weren’t most of you people against akin a mere month ago? but the issue is not just the senate seat. if the repubs officially support him, they can tie his remarks to other races.
nathor on September 28, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Um, no.
The most recent Rasmussen has him within 6, and McCaskill below 50 percent.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/missouri/election_2012_missouri_senate
Oh, please. All the NRSC is doing is showing how easily cowed they are. If you are serious about having Obamacare repealed, you fight on all fronts. Especially when your underfunded challenger is within 6 of a pathetically-weak incumbent in a bellwether state that went for McCain (!) in 2008.
DRPrice on September 28, 2012 at 2:35 PM
claire now has a group called Republicans for Claire. The leader?
the former chief of staff for Kit Bond
$$$$$$$$$ talks big for some people…Claire knows how to give money to friends and family
i’m sure that this guy will get a lot more than a two-bit phone
r keller on September 28, 2012 at 2:37 PM
NRSC wants to make sure they have too few seats to do a clean repeal of Obamacare and thus are allowed to keep the big government parts of it intact. Making sure 97% ACU rated members are not part of the Senate is part and partial to that.
astonerii on September 28, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Democrats held their fire on Akin because the seat is an easy winner. If Akin moves in the polls they’ll just fire away at a target rich environment.
El_Terrible on September 28, 2012 at 2:38 PM
..Newter made an excellent point on why he is backing Akin: he said a 60 seconds gaffe is trivial compared to four years of slobbering, slavering Obama-sequiousness. I am inclined to agree. Akin is truly contrite and believe that — in comparison to the utter and complete hypocrisy of ANY Democrat — he deserves to be given a fighting chance.
Frankly, amigo, I am beginning to weary of this circular firing squad they call the GOP. If Romney funks it and we DO NOT take the Senate, it’ll be you and me and all the ammo and guns we can muster heading for the hills instead of the barricades. We will form a doughty guerrilla band and hold out until 2016 or..?
The War Planner on September 28, 2012 at 2:39 PM
How do they do that? There are pro choice Republicans, too. Do the remarks of pro choice Republicans get tied to other Republican races?
Buddahpundit on September 28, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Stop making me want to support Akin!! Ugh!
Fezzik on September 28, 2012 at 2:41 PM
..easy:
(1) remove either shoe.
(2) remove sock.
(3) draw side arm.
(4) aim at any toe.
(5) empty clip.
The War Planner on September 28, 2012 at 2:43 PM
With friends like these, who needs enemies? Man, shut up. I’m ready to send Akin a donation because of these morons.
conservative pilgrim on September 28, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Go right ahead – pretty risky bet, IMHO. There are lots of other competitive races with candidates who don’t run a high risk of self-implosion.
The Count on September 28, 2012 at 2:56 PM
NRSC chief John Cornyn
What an effing idiot.
Hmm, I would say this qualifies John to soon be
an EX NRSC Chief.
ToddPA on September 28, 2012 at 3:01 PM
You beat me to it. You’d think after that, Cornyn would keep his mouth shut, but, no, conceit knows no bounds.
INC on September 28, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Why do you say this O Mighty Carnac???
Vince on September 28, 2012 at 3:10 PM
there is pro-choice and just being a troglodyte that think women can “shut the whole thing down” if they are “legitimately raped”!
dem ad’s would be as simple as to play akins remarks and saying the NRSC supports akin!
nathor on September 28, 2012 at 3:12 PM
Elections are a repeated game. National Republicans can not give money to Akin or the next we nominate a bad candidate, they will stay in because they saw that our side gave in to their demands. This is not complicated. We cannot give him money because it would have long term implications. Simple game theory.
ArkyDore on September 28, 2012 at 3:14 PM
What other races would that be? Maine? He has such a great record. All Cornyn has to do is keep his mouth shut.
Reminder:
conservative pilgrim on September 28, 2012 at 3:15 PM
So, who’s ready to send in Alan Keyes?
J.E. Dyer on September 28, 2012 at 3:18 PM
I agree with you, Doughboy and anyone else that thinks this. Cornyn is just another Establishment Republican. The next request for a donation, I’ll send it back with an appropriate comment.
Akin must be doing better in the polls; no other reason Cornyn came out again against him. Traitor! He’s the one that flew up to Alaska with his boys to help Murkowski (sp?) against Miller.
bluefox on September 28, 2012 at 3:22 PM
@commodore
Forgot to thank you for the Ohio absentee voter request stats you put together. Several people on the HA threads have checked it out.
bluefox on September 28, 2012 at 3:25 PM
Absolutely stupid. Can’t wait to get rid of Cornyn.
Missy on September 28, 2012 at 3:35 PM
I see your point here. Yes, the risk is in another Akin gaffe. What bothers me is when a candidate is in the race to stay and an establishment type pol like Cornyn makes this type of declaration and remains as stubborn as Akin. Cornyn can’t appear like he’s lost, so he’ll make sure Akin loses.
conservative pilgrim on September 28, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Hahahaha:
lostmotherland on September 28, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Akin is moronic and toxic, and can potentially drag on other GOP candidates by association, which the Dems will dearly love to do.
bayview on September 28, 2012 at 3:53 PM
That was before McCaskill and the Dems started opening fire on the moron, which they had begun with ad attacks one minute past the withdrawal date of Sept. 25. The moron had also been hiding and keeping his mouth shut, once he opens his mouth to spew more idiocy or exposes his cluelessness at debates, he will fall even father behind.
bayview on September 28, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Still not sure about this. The Democrats could play ads against pro choice or “moderate” Republicans saying the NRSC supports some pro-life or conservative candidates. If that’s the case, then it’s pointless and counter-productive for the NRSC to support any moderate Republicans.
Put it this way, if you are right, then conservatives who are challenging in primaries should use their less conservative’s opponents backing by the NRSC against them. “My opponent is backed by the NRSC, the same fund that supports candidates like Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio and supports pro abortion candidates like….”
I think such ads would be silly and ineffective from either direction.
Buddahpundit on September 28, 2012 at 4:04 PM
This.
Stoic Patriot on September 28, 2012 at 4:18 PM
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