Democrats have held their majority in the Senate, in large part, thanks to GOP candidates who thought it was a good idea to lecture the electorate about rape and pregnancy.
Offensive-statement-making Republican candidates Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin—whose Senate victories at one point seemed all-but assured—lost in hotly contested races in Indiana and Missouri, respectively, on Tuesday night.
According to early exit polling data, Democrat Joe Donnelly won 48% of the vote in Indiana compared to Mourdock’s 46%. And incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill beat out Todd Akin, 53% to 40%.
Mourdock, the state’s treasurer, sabotaged his campaign after suggesting last month that pregnancies, even in cases of rape, are “something God intended to happen.”
Before that, Akin came under fire for suggesting that instances of “legitimate rape” rarely result in pregnancy.
According to early data, the remarks seems to have hurt the two men, especially among women voters.
A whopping 56% of women voters cast their ballots for McCaskill, versus 39% for Akin. And in Indiana, 52% of females voted for Donnelly, compared to 42% for Mourdock.
Indeed, it’s a great night to be a Democratic Senate candidate. Several in the must-watch races have won so far. That includes:
-Democrat Martin Heinrich against Republican Heather Wilson in New Mexico (52% to 45%)
-Democrat Timothy Kaine against Republican George Allen in Virginia (51% to 49%)
–Democrat Chris Murphy against Republican Linda McMahon in Connecticut (53% to 46%)
–Democrat Elizabeth Warren against Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts (53% to 47%) -Democrat Sherrod Brown against Republican Josh Mandel in Ohio (51% to 45%) -Democrat Bill Nelson against Republican Connie Mack in Florida (55% to 42%) -Democrat Bob Casey against Republican Tom Smith in Pennsylvania (58% to 40%) And the Republicans wins? -Republican Deb Fischer against Democrat Bob Kerrey (55% to 45%) In a year in which the GOP had every advantage— they were defending just 10 seats to Democrats’ 23— it seems that the Left may actually gain seats in the Senate.Recommended
