Down-Ballot Republicans in Missouri Remain Quiet on Akin

Update at 6 p.m. Hartzler released this statement: "Like many Missourians, I found Congressman Akin's comments baffling, disturbing and misinformed. Over the last few days I have attempted to communicate with him personally; however, my repeated attempts have been unsuccessful. Due to the serious nature of this issue, I hope and pray he will make the right decision for himself, his family and our country and follow the advice of Senators Blunt, Bond, Ashcroft, Talent and Danforth."

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The fallout from the Todd Akin "forcible rape" comment could be spreading to some down-ballot races.

While national Republicans have sought to distance themselves from Akin on the issue, many Missouri Republicans have been able to maintain silence.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartlzer (MO-4th District), a religious conservative much like Akin, is one of the Republicans that has been able to stay silent on the issue.

On Wednesday, Rep. Hartzler's spokesman told the Columbia Daily Tribune that "there is no reason for Congresswoman Hartzler to weigh in" on the issue.

The silence drew immediate criticism from Hartzler's Democratic rival, Cass County Prosecutor Theresa Hensley, who called on Hartzler to disavow Akin's remarks that the female body could somehow shut down pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape."

If ever there was a time for Congresswoman Hartzler to set aside her partisanship, this is it," Hensley said in a statement. "I'm asking again for her to make her views clear on this important issue."

Rep. Hartzler is not the only Republican to remain silent on the issue. Nearly all of the statewide Republican ticket -- including gubernatorial hopeful Dave Spence and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder -- have continued to duck commenting on the comment, even as the party's infrastructure, led by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, has called on Akin to step out of the race.

Wednesday morning, Rep. Akin told Matt Lauer on NBC's Today Show that his decision to stay in the race wasn't based on ego.

"Let me say, this is not about me. This is not about my ego. But it is about the voters of the state of Missouri. They've chosen me because of principles that I stand on -- putting principle over politics. I believe that they stand with me on a whole host of issues."

Akin says he's willing to take on the campaign without the support of the Republican Party establishment. Wednesday, Akin took to his social media accounts to ask donors for five dollar campaign contributions.

Meanwhile, Missouri State University political science professor George Connor says the party has a real mess on its hands.

"The views that are being expressed by other prominent Republicans both nationally and in the state of Missouri, is that congressman Akin does not give the Republican Party the best chance to retake the United States Senate."

A poll taken on Monday night showed Akin still with a slight lead over Claire McCaskill.

"I'm not going to not vote for Congressman Akin because of this and turn around and vote for Claire McCaskill," added Connor.

Connor says the two are too far apart on core issues to allow for Republicans to cross over. He says a more likely scenario is that Republican voters will not vote for either Akin or McCaskill.  

In Greene County, the party is trucking ahead.

"We've had a lot of positive calls," says Danette Proctor, Greene County Republican Chair (left). "We've had a lot of negative calls. The first two days started out negative. Today the calls are coming in positive. Akin is still in the race. He's our candidate. In campaigns you have hiccups every once in a while and we've got one. We'll just have to work our way through and what we're doing...we're encouraging people to express their concerns -- their positive and negative -- to the Akin campaign so he can hear the people and he wants to hear the people."