memeorandum: Tampa platform's 5 flashpoints (James Hohmann/Reuters)

10:25 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 …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, ThinkProgress, Agence France Presse, Booman Tribune, theGrio, First Read, Taylor Marsh, Little Green Footballs, The Raw Story, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, Firedoglake, WMUR, Boston Globe, Election 2012 and BuzzFeed

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

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

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, Election 2012, Talking Points Memo, Washington Examiner, The Raw Story, The Volokh Conspiracy, National Review and The New Civil Rights Movement

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

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: 2012 Decoded, Taegan Goddard's …, The New Republic, ABCNEWS, ThinkProgress and Newsy

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 and The Daily Caller

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, Balloon Juice and New York Times

Andrew Grossman / Washington Wire: GOP Panel Rejects Plank on Mortgage-Interest Deductions

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

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Shakesville, Power Line, Roll Call, Plunderbund, The Daily Beast and Michelle Malkin

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

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

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

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 »

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

Discussion: The Caucus, Hullabaloo and The Daily Beast, more at Mediagazer »

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

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

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

Discussion: The Fix and CBS News

National Review:
Step Aside, Todd Akin

Discussion: The Daily Beast, PJ Media, Politico, Scared Monkeys, Washington Post, First Read, The PJ Tatler, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, CNN, Weekly Standard, Mediaite, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Other McCain, American Power, Althouse, Outside the Beltway, BREITBART.COM and Boston Globe

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

Discussion: Politico, Questions and Observations, Washington Post, American Power, Plunderbund, This Just In, Newsy, National Review, Daily Kos, BuzzFeed, BuzzFeed, The Reaction, The Maddow Blog, Pirate's Cove, The Hinterland Gazette, Shakesville and The Reality-Based Community

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

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

Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Family Research Council head defends Akin

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Talking Points Memo, 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

David Taintor / Talking Points Memo:
Reports: Akin Advisers Make Preparations For Withdrawal Tomorrow

Discussion: Donklephant, The Hill, Daily Kos, Liberal Values, Firedoglake, ThinkProgress, Taylor Marsh, The New Civil Rights Movement and Los Angeles Times

BuzzFeed:
Republican Source: Akin Moving To Withdraw [UPDATED]

Discussion: The Daily Caller and The Gateway Pundit

New York Times:
Republicans Press Todd Akin to Quit Race

Discussion: American Prospect, Washington Wire, Mediaite, Politico, The Maddow Blog, The Caucus, Media Decoder, The Daily Beast, Prairie Weather, ABCNEWS, American Power, Talking Points Memo and US Politics, more at Mediagazer »

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 and USA Today

Justin Sink / The Hill: RNC ad: Obama ‘ignores the truth’ over ‘felon’ comment

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Romney grows cash advantage on Obama

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

CNN:
Team Obama spent more than it raised in July, falls behind Romney in cash-on-hand

Discussion: Politico, Outside the Beltway and The Lonely Conservative

Justin Sink / Ballot Box:

Romney ad: Obama welfare change leads to ‘cycle of dependency’ — Mitt Romney's campaign released a new web video Tuesday, using the story of Danny Vargas, the former National Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly to again hammer President Obama on changes to welfare policy.

Discussion: The Daily Beast and The Maddow Blog

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Obama to media: Romney's whole campaign is based on lies

Discussion: The Maddow Blog, Mad Kane's Political Madness, Booman Tribune, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Raw Story, The Huffington Post and The Political Carnival

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

Zack Colman / The Hill:

Green group urges Interior to delay Shell's Arctic drilling plans — In a report released Monday, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is urging the government to hold off on approving Royal Dutch Shell's plans for Arctic drilling until more information can be gathered about the project's environmental effects on the region.