memeorandum: Piers Morgan puts up empty chair after Akin cancels appearance (Richard Allen Greene/CNN)

11:05 AM ET, August 21, 2012

Top Items:

Akin 44 McCaskill 43 — Missouri voters strongly disagree with the comments Todd Akin made about abortion over the weekend, but it hasn't moved the numbers a whole lot in the Senate race. Akin leads Claire McCaskill by a single point, 44-43. That's basically identical to our last poll …

CNN:

TRENDING: First on CNN: GOP prepares tough anti-abortion platform — Tampa, Florida (CNN) - The Republican Party is once again set to enshrine into its official platform support for “a human life amendment” to the Constitution that would outlaw abortion without making explicit exemptions for rape or incest …

Alexander Burns / Politico:

Exclusive: Akin ad asks for ‘forgiveness’ — Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin has recorded a television ad asking for “forgiveness” from the voters of his state and acknowledging that he used “the wrong words in the wrong way” when he suggested last weekend that rape rarely leads to pregnancy.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Media Decoder, AEIdeas, Mediaite, The Maddow Blog, The PJ Tatler, Washington Examiner, Scared Monkeys, The Hinterland Gazette, National Review, CNN, Outside the Beltway, Talking Points Memo, The Huffington Post, RealClearPolitics Video Log and Daily Kos, more at Mediagazer »

Alex Roarty / NationalJournal.com:

Could Akin Damage the Top of the GOP Ticket? — Democrats could suggest Ryan and, by proxy, Romney share many of the congressman's views on abortion rights. — Isolated comments from a political candidate — even remarks as incendiary as Todd Akin — 's suggestion that “legitimate rape” …

Discussion: protein wisdom, Daily Pundit, 2012 Decoded, Taegan Goddard's …, The New Republic, ABCNEWS, ThinkProgress and Newsy

Andrew Grossman / Washington Wire:

GOP Panel Rejects Plank on Mortgage-Interest Deductions — The committee drafting the Republican Party's platform rejected a bid to include a plank calling for preservation of the mortgage interest tax deduction Monday. — The battle pitted allies of the beleaguered real-estate industry …

Catalina Camia / USA Today:

Embattled Rep. Akin apologizes again in new TV ad — Amid growing GOP pressure to quit the Missouri Senate race, Rep. Todd Akin has recorded a new TV ad seeking forgiveness for his controversial comments about “legitimate rape.” — “Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong …

Discussion: The Agonist

SurveyUSA:

In Missouri: 54% Call For Akin to Quit Bid for U.S. Senate; 76% Do Not Share His Views on Rape and Abortion — By 5:3, Missourians say Congressman Todd Akin, a Republican running for U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, should drop out of the race …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Taegan Goddard's …, Weekly Standard, Power Line, The Daily Caller and Firedoglake

Dennis Prager / Townhall.com:

The Pro-Life Movement Must Disavow Akin Comment — Rep. Todd Akin has, unwittingly to be sure, harmed the pro-life movement, his senatorial race in Missouri, the Republican Party, and therefore quite possibly the nation. — Every person who speaks or writes for the public will make an occasional faux pas …

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and Washington Examiner

Meredith Shiner / Roll Call:

Missouri: What Happens If Todd Akin Drops Out — (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo) — If Rep. Todd Akin (R) does drop his Missouri Senate bid within the next 24 hours, as the GOP establishment is pressuring him to do, at least his timing will be impeccable.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Hot Air, Talking Points Memo, Washington Examiner, Election 2012, The Raw Story, The Volokh Conspiracy, National Review and The New Civil Rights Movement

CNN:

Clock ticking for Akin as GOP urges him to withdraw after rape comment — (CNN) — The Missouri GOP Senate candidate under fire for his controversial comments about rape plans to pursue his bid for office despite calls to withdraw. — Todd Akin faces a Tuesday deadline to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Missouri.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, National Review, FOX2now.com, Balloon Juice and New York Times

James Hohmann / Reuters:

Tampa platform's 5 flashpoints — TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney's motto during two days of marathon meetings here to craft the 2012 Republican platform could be: Do no harm. — In order to keep the peace, his team must concede some things to the conservative base.

Discussion: CNN

Pam Belluck / New York Times:
Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape

Discussion: The Caucus, The Daily Beast, Hullabaloo and WIL WHEATON dot TUMBLR, more at Mediagazer »

Pema Levy / Talking Points Memo:
Akin TV Spot: ‘I Ask For Your Forgiveness’

Discussion: Reclusive Leftist, Washington Monthly, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Shakesville, Power Line, Roll Call and Michelle Malkin

Evan McMorris-Santoro / Talking Points Memo:
Todd Akin Launches 'I'm Not Quitting' Ad Campaign

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Hot Air, Show Me Progress, The Fix and Hotline On Call

Ann Coulter / Human Events:
IF AKIN LOVES HIS COUNTRY, HE WILL STEP ASIDE

Discussion: Politico, Conservatives4Palin, Hot Air, Mediaite, About.com Conservative … and UrbanGrounds, more at Mediagazer »

Richard Allen Greene / CNN:
Piers Morgan puts up empty chair after Akin cancels appearance

Discussion: Gothamist, FOX2now.com and Poynter

Allison Hantschel / Firedoglake:
Late Night: On Legitimacy, Or Why Akin's Comments Weren't (Just) About Rape

Discussion: The Fix and CBS News

Kerry Picket / Washington Times:
RNC Chair wants Akin to ‘step aside’ and not come to convention

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Scared Monkeys and The Gateway Pundit

Manu Raju / Politico:
Piers Morgan calls Todd Akin ‘gutless little twerp’

Discussion: Daily Kos, The Hill, New York Magazine, The Moderate Voice and CNN

Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Family Research Council head defends Akin

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Dish, Stinque, CNN, The Raw Story, rightwingwatch.org, Midwest Democracy and First Read

Wall Street Journal:
Crucial Senate Race in Uproar

Discussion: Washington Wire, New York Times and Suburban Guerrilla

Chris Christie / CNN:
Christie says ‘I was right’ about Romney's VP pick

Discussion: Politico

National Review:
Step Aside, Todd Akin

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Hannity to Akin: You know you could cost us the Senate, right?

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Mediaite, ABCNEWS, The Other McCain, Politico, The Lonely Conservative, The PJ Tatler and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Tony Perkins / CNN:
Leading social conservatives rally to Akin's defense

Discussion: Politico, Questions and Observations, New York Times, Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, American Power, Plunderbund, This Just In, Newsy, National Review, Mediaite, Daily Kos, BuzzFeed, The Reaction, Pirate's Cove, The Hinterland Gazette, Shakesville and The Reality-Based Community

New York Times:

Romney Gains Huge Cash Advantage Over Obama — Mitt Romney's cash advantage over President Obama and the Democrats more than doubled in July, as intense Republican fund-raising and heavy spending by Mr. Obama and his allies left Mr. Romney and the Republican National Committee with $62 million …

Discussion: Election 2012, Politico, Outside the Beltway, New York Magazine, Prairie Weather and USA Today

Justin Sink / The Hill:

RNC ad: Obama ‘ignores the truth’ over ‘felon’ comment — The Republican National Committee released a new web ad Tuesday slamming President Obama for his suggestion at a White House press conference on Monday that “nobody accused Mr. Romney of being a felon.”

Aaron Blake / The Fix:
Romney grows cash advantage on Obama

Discussion: Power Line, Hot Air, The Lonely Conservative and Reuters

Ed Kilgore / Washington Monthly:

Here's Your Beltway Pundit Constituency — As part of a series of Pre-Convention Front-Pagers based on a new WaPo-Kaiser Family Foundation survey, Jon Cohen and Dan Balz deliver a solid assessment of political independents that is most impressive for its succinctness. Here's all you really need to know from the piece:

Discussion: Washington Post and Eschaton

Rosie.com:

my heart attack — while walking in a parking lot in nyack — “can u help me? she asked again — as i walked toward her — “oh u r rosie odonnell” — yes i am — the ghost of christmas future — me - if i did not wake — there r no accidents i thought — as i braced myself and lifted her

Discussion: iOwnTheWorld.com, People.com, Towleroad News #gay, New York Magazine, Mediaite and The Hollywood Gossip

Ryan J. Reilly / Talking Points Memo:

Justice Department Approves Va. Voter ID Law — The Justice Department approved changes to Virginia's voter ID law Monday, suggesting there is a way forward for such laws — even in states that must have election laws pre-cleared under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Alicia Mundy / Washington Wire:

Rabbi Shmuley Gets Boost From Adelsons — Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, among the top donors to the Republican machine this election, is also now the top giver - along with his wife - to the New Jersey congressional race of the reality-TV rabbi, Shmuley Boteach.

Discussion: Politico, Algemeiner.com and Israel Matzav

Janet Hook / Washington Wire:

Paul Ryan Sticks to Fitness Routine on Road — PITTSBURGH-Rep. Paul Ryan, renowned fitness devotee, doesn't want the presidential campaign to wreck havoc on his exercise routine. — Mitt Romney's running mate is trying to continue doing the grueling P90X routine he has practiced for years …

Discussion: Election 2012