Akin May Open Another Front for Romney

Isolated comments from a political candidate – even remarks as incendiary as Todd Akin’s suggestion that “legitimate rape” doesn’t cause pregnancy – usually deliver only a glancing, temporary blow to other members of their own party. But there’s reason to think the Missouri lawmaker’s bombshell interview could harm the Republican presidential ticket.

Akin and Rep. Paul Ryan share a voting history on abortion rights, including mutual support for a controversial measure that would define embryos as a person. They cosponsored another measure, subsequently withdrawn, that would distinguish “forcible rape” in banning abortion funding. Akin, Ryan, and Mitt Romney also back less-controversial measures, such as defunding Planned Parenthood.

That broader link gives Democrats a chance to push a debate about abortion and women’s health back into the limelight, putting the GOP ticket on the defensive over an issue it would rather avoid.

It’s an opportunity President Obama himself took on Monday. Though careful not to suggest his GOP rivals shared Akin’s exact views, he nonetheless said the comments “underscore is why we shouldn't have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making health care decisions on behalf of women.”

Romney has distanced himself from Akin, and a flood of Republicans have begun calling for the congressman to end his campaign (though Akin seems to be fighting to stay in the race). “This is not an issue that’s going to help them, and they’re smart enough to know that,” said Jim Innocenzi, a Republican strategist. “They are going to do everything they can to get the hell away from it.”

But for now, Ryan and Romney will be forced to fight on a new front in their battle against Obama, on ground that’s traditionally unfavorable to their cause. Read more

—Alex Roarty

NATIONAL JOURNAL’S PRESIDENTIAL RACE REPORT

GOP Platform Could Boost Attacks On Romney’s Abortion Stance NEW!
[National Journal, 8/21/12] The Romney campaign has tried to clarify its position on abortion to distance the nominee from Akin, saying “A Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.” But don’t expect attacks on Romney’s abortion stance to ebb, especially considering the now-glaring absence of a rape exception in the GOP platform.

Republicans Reject Proposal to Endorse Same-Sex Civil Unions NEW!
[CNN, 8/21/12] The GOP platform committee rejected a proposal to include formal support of same-sex civil unions in the party’s platform on Tuesday. A 31-year-old Rhode Island delegate proposed the amendment originally.

Clinging Makes a Comeback NEW!
[Washington Post, 8/21/12] Then-Sen. Obama was lambasted by Republicans in 2008 for saying at a fundraiser that some voters are “clinging to their guns and religion.” Well, Paul Ryan is bringing it back, resurrecting the attack at a steel company southwest of Pittsburgh, Pa., on Tuesday.

Romney Battles Obama For Cash Advantage
[Reuters, 8/20/12] Obama and his affiliates have roughly $60 million less on hand than Romney and the Republican National Committee. But campaign finance experts say it is too soon to assume that means Romney has a political advantage in November. 

Romney Taxes Enriched Foreign Governments At U.S. Expense
[Huffington Post, 8/20/12] Romney sought and received $787,455 in foreign tax credits from the U.S. Treasury to cover his tax payments to other nations in 2008, raising questions about the sources of his foreign income.

Sununu: Mitt Romney’s Honey Badger NEW!
[National Review, 8/21/12] John H. Sununu, the former New Hampshire governor and pugnacious surrogate, has a persona that is “part Archie Bunker and part schoolteacher,” as Robert Costa writes. For his part, Sununu, a frequent fixture on cable news, describes himself as the “crazy uncle” to the campaign.

Liberal Groups Target Koch Brothers With $500K Ad Buy
[Politico, 8/21/12] In perhaps the most concerted effort by Democrats to make an issue of the Kochs, or any of the emergent class of conservative mega-donors, a liberal non-profit group is launching a long-term multimillion-dollar advertising campaign targeting the conservative brothers.

Ryan’s Raiders
[Weekly Standard, 8/27/12] For Ryan’s reforms (as revised by Romney, of course) to be enacted if their ticket is chosen in the fall, his army of the 87 GOP House freshman elected in 2010 must be re-elected in November.

Why Young People Don’t Vote
[New York Times, 8/20/12] Many young people just don’t see the connection between voting and their commitment to improve their communities, advocate for a cause, or change the world. Plus, there are very real grounds for political cynicism. And, let’s face it, civic engagement can be a snore.

Romney Showing His Mormon Faith
[Boston Globe, 8/21/12] Romney’s decision to open up his church visits to the press this weekend was the most notable in a series of recent efforts to humanize the candidate by revealing more about how his faith has shaped him and his policies. The campaign is expected to encourage more emphasis on Romney’s Mormonism at next week’s convention.

Romney Aide Details Convention Strategy
[Boston Herald, 8/21/12] In a move meant to highlight Obama’s recent negative attacks, Romney strategists say the campaign will push a message of optimism and hope in the future over the next few weeks. 

Newsweek: The Whiff Factor
[National Journal, 8/20/12] Once, Newsweek magazine had, arguably, the best political coverage in the business. But this week, Niall Ferguson’s over-the-top piece, “Obama’s Gotta Go,” sparked talk of how far the once-great magazine has fallen. National Journal’s Michael Hirsh points all the times he said Ferguson got it wrong.

Independents Are Dissatisfied With Political System
[Washington Post, 8/20/12] One clear factor that separates independents from Democrats and Republicans is a near-uniform call for greater cross-party cooperation – which Romney and Obama seem to be ignoring.

Afghanistan War Makes Rare Appearance in 2012 Race
[The Hill, 8/21/12] Neither Obama nor Romney has much to benefit talking about the war in Afghanistan, even despite an uptick in violence against U.S. forces: The war is unpopular, and the two candidates’ positions on withdrawal are similar. But both men made rare public statements on Monday about the conflict.

National GOP Pulls Funding from Akin 
[Washington Post, 8/20/12] Even as the National Republican Senatorial Committee decided to pull funding from Akin’s race, the embattled congressman vowed to keep himself in the running on Monday, saying, "The good people of Missouri nominated me, and I'm not a quitter."

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