Decision 2012: Pressure Mounts for Akin to Step Aside

GOP Congressman Todd Akin is defying Republican leaders who are calling for him to drop out of the Missouri Senate race after he said women rarely get pregnant in cases of what he called "legitimate" rape. Akin apologized for using the word "legitimate," but later said women lie about being raped to get abortions. Republican leaders have gone as far as calling Akin an "idiot" and worry his statements and candidacy will hurt them this Fall.

Class discussion: Check news reports to discover the Republican Party's position on abortion and presidential candidate Mitt Romney's stand on the issue. Does the party, like Akin, call for a total ban on abortion without exception? What does Romney say? What has his running mate Paul Ryan said on the issue? Why are some Republicans worried about bringing up the abortion issue in the campaign? See what you can find about the so-called "gender gap" between the parties.