FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer, who stopped in Fort Wayne, says Missouri Senate Candidate Todd Akin should drop out of his bid for U.S. Senate over his controversial “legitimate rape” comments.
Akin, who by Missouri law must decide whether he will remain in the race by 5 p.m. Central Time Tuesday in order for the Republican Party to replace him, said on Sunday that victims of “legitimate rape” have mechanisms in the female body that prevent pregnancy.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” said Akin.
Tuesday morning in Fort Wayne, Kremer said Akin must drop out of his bid to unseat Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) because his comments have become a distraction.
“This is a complete distraction to what we’re focused on and that’s jobs and the economy and getting us back on track. And so we think that it’s best that he step aside at this point,” she says.
Republicans heavyweights including Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have also called for Akin to drop out.
Kremer says Akin’s comments are not representative of the Tea Party Express’ mission, nor can they be defended.
“First of all, I completely disagree with everything he said. It’s indefensible. It’s inexcusable. It doesn’t represent, you know, what we believe out here. It’s not what we’re focused on, and we need to move forward. I mean, we’re focused on jobs and the economy and if he stays in the race, this is going to continue to drag us down and be a distraction, you know, all the way to the top of the ticket and we just can’t afford that right now.”
Kremer says the mission to beat McCaskill remains unchanged. If Akin drops out by 5 p.m. Central Time, Kremer says the Express believes the Republican Party should nominate Sarah Steelman, who finished third in the Republican Primary.
“I think she would be the best candidate,” Kremer says.
A Tea Party Express bus was located at the Wal-Mart Super Center on Lima Road Tuesday morning. Kremer flew into the Summit City from Atlanta where the bus will head to Battle Creek, Michigan. Tea Party Express riders say they stopped in Fort Wayne to make phone calls to area conservatives to energize their grassroots base and educate conservatives on fiscal issues ahead of the November election.
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