A new poll has Todd Akin way behind

By Richard K. Barry

If you haven't seen it, a Rasmussen poll just came out showing Sen. Claire McCaskill in front of disgraced GOP challenger Todd Akin in the Missouri Senate race by a margin of 48 to 38 percent. In fact, most Missourians simply want Akin to quit the race, although most Democrats want him to stay in.

What's the best indicator that it might be time for Akin to get out? Could that be when voters who want him to lose are thrilled he might be staying in?

To put things in perspective, Rasmussen had McCaskill behind in early August by 3 points.

One anomaly, though, is that Akin has seen a fundraising surge due to the controversy. Of course, being a national media lightening rod may help with the fundraising, but not actually at the polls.

As for how this could impact the top of the ticket in Missouri come November, Nate Silver had an interesting piece that suggested Republican voters might sit out the election altogether. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney has a large enough cushion in the state pretty much to guarantee he'll take it anyway.

Too bad this didn't happen in Florida, Virginia, or Ohio. But don't get me wrong, this has been a nice gift all the same.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)