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Hoover: Akin's presence in race distracts GOP from discussing economy
The calls for Missouri GOP Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin to withdraw from the race are growing louder.
Akin came under fire for his controversial comments about rape, when he said in a television interview Sunday that a woman's body is capable of preventing pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape." He plans to pursue his bid for office despite calls to withdraw.
Top congressional Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas advised Akin to spend time considering what is best for his family, party and country - political code for urging him to withdraw.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN contributor Margaret Hoover explains the national political implications of Rep. Todd Akin's 'legitimate rape' comments.
"As long as we're talking about women, and the fact that President Obama is leading Mitt Romney by 15 percentage points when it comes to women...if that margin continues to grow, they're not talking about jobs, they're not talking about the economy, they're not talking about the impending debt crisis, they're not talking about things that all voters are saying is #1 on their mind," Hoover says. "Missouri hangs in the balance. Really all their combinations, if they want to win the senate back, need Claire McKaskill to lose."
"If the gap continues to widen with women, president obama stands a chance at being reelected," she adds.
READ MORE: Clock ticking for Akin as GOP urges him to withdraw after rape comment
President Obama to Syria: Don't cross 'red line' – Jim Clancy on what this means for ongoing violence in the country
(CNN) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should heed U.S. warnings to neither use nor move chemical or biological weapons, lest he risk crossing a "red line" and provoke a U.S. military response, President Barack Obama said Monday.
"We cannot have a situation where chemical or biological weapons are falling into the hands of the wrong people," Obama told reporters at the White House. "We have been very clear to the Assad regime - but also to other players on the ground - that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized."
"That would change my calculus; that would change my equation."
Obama added that U.S. officials are monitoring the situation "very carefully" and have put together a number of contingency plans.
On "Early Start" this morning, Jim Clancy reports on what President Obama's warning means for the ongoing violence in Syria.
READ MORE: Obama warns Syria not to cross 'red line'
Will Rep. Akin drop out of Senate race? Ana Navarro says 'he needs to go,' says calling it 'legitimate rape' is 'legitimately stupid'
(CNN) - Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin, under fire for his controversial comments about rape, faces a Tuesday deadline to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Missouri as some in his party are urging.
Akin, a six-term congressman, caused an uproar among both Republicans and Democrats after he said in a television interview Sunday that a woman's body is capable of preventing pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape."
Top congressional Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas advised Akin to spend time considering what is best for his family, party and country - political code for urging him to withdraw.
CNN contributor & GOP strategist Ana Navarro weighs in on if Rep. Todd Akin should bow out of a Senate race after rape comments.
Though she says she doesn't know what Rep. Akin will do, she does say there's one person who wants him to continue running.
"The people who want him to stay at this point is his opponent Claire McKaskill who would love to run against him because he's going to be very easy to beat...and his wife and his son, who allegedly both work on his campaign," Navarro says.
Navarro explains the chance to replace Akin closes with a deadline today at 6pm Eastern time, and suggests there are a number of candidates who could take Akin's place.
Navarro also takes issue with Akin's explanation to Mike Huckabee on his radio show as to his misuse of the phrase "legitimate rape," when he says he intended to say forcible rape.
"I think that when legislators start parsing and dissecting the word 'rape' they're getting into a slippery slope," Navarro says. "Calling it 'legitimate rape' to me is 'legitimately stupid.' Rape is rape. I don't understand what the word "forcible" has to be in there for."
"Rape is rape for Democrats, for Republicans, for all Americans. We all understand it as an act of violence," she adds.
Augusta National Golf Club admits first female members
(CNN) - Augusta National Golf Club opened its exclusive membership to women Monday for the first time in its 80-year history.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore will become the first women to join the Augusta, Georgia, club, Chairman Billy Payne said Monday in a statement.
"These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership," Payne said.
The issue of its formerly all-male membership has long dogged the private club and has at times threatened to overshadow the Masters Tournament, among golf's most prestigious events.
This morning on "Early Start," Mark McKay reports on this historic moment.
READ MORE: Augusta National Golf Club admits first female members
Apple is most valuable company ever, with market cap valued at $623 billion
Christine Romans on the incredible growth of Apple stock and it's current designation as the most valuable company ever.
Pressure mounting for Akin to drop out of Senate race – Paul Steinhauser explains
Washington (CNN) - The fallout over U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin's controversial comments on rape jolted Republicans nationally on Monday and threatened longer-term consequences for them, potentially reviving the "war on women" debate and possibly hurting their campaign to win control of the Senate.
Republican leaders let out a collective groan when Akin claimed in a television interview on Sunday that "legitimate rape" rarely resulted in pregnancy, saying that "the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
The nation's largest tea party political action committee, the Tea Party Express, is calling on Rep. Todd Akin to step down as Missouri's Republican nominee for a Senate seat on Monday following controversial comments.
A social conservative congressman, Akin apologized repeatedly as the political uproar intensified and sought to clarify his remarks, saying he misspoke.
This morning on "Early Start," Paul Steinhauser looks at the calls for Rep. Akin to pull out of the Senate race.
READ MORE: Akin's 'legitimate rape' comments trouble for GOP
Best Advice: McKayla Maroney
Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney shares the best advice she has ever received.
Mom of heavy child barred from playing Pee Wee football says son 'dedicated' to team, head of association says code of conduct wasn't followed
A 12-year-old boy from Texas says he just wants to play football. But the local Pee Wee Association says he's too big to play.
Elijah Earnheart is 6'1" and weighs 297 pounds. That's more than twice the weight the Pee Wee rule book allows for kids in his grade.
Elijah and his mother Cindy Earnheart talk with John Berman on "Early Start" this morning and explain that Elijah was hurt by the group's decision.
"I felt sad and kind of down because I started practicing with them for three weeks, and then, they told me I couldn't play," Elijah says.
The school has provided other opportunities to play football, but Elijah's mom says that's not the point.
"Elijah will play football, that's not the issue," Cindy says. "It's just that we put in a lot of hard work with that team, and he went out there and was dedicated to that team for three weeks, you know, blood, sweat and tears, every single night."
After this interview, Zoraida talks with Mesquite Pee Wee Football Association president Ronnie Henderson who explains that the coach for the Pee Wee team didn't follow the proper steps in this situation.
"They have code of conducts and steps they're supposed to go through," Henderson says. "And this coach didn't follow any of their steps to go through."
"We'll change the wording to make it even simpler to read, and we will meet more with the coaches," Henderson adds. "Everybody should have known this. I really feel like this is just a bad mistake that was made. Maybe the coach didn't know."
Newsweek cover article argues President Obama must go – Dan Lothian on author Niall Ferguson's claims the president hasn't delivered on promises
Dan Lothian on Niall Ferguson's cover story for "Newsweek" arguing that President Obama has not delivered on promises.
Ethanol debate heats up in midst of rising corn prices and drought – Christine Romans explains
Christine Romans on how high price of corn and historic drought has led to a renewed debate over ethanol.
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