Rep. Todd Akin failed to make a special appearance on CNN's “Piers Morgan Tonight,” which was part of his media blitz to defend himself and save his Senate campaign from the fallout over his controversial abortion and rape comments.
Morgan opened the show to an empty chair, at one point calling Akin, the Republican nomination for the Senate in Missouri, a "gutless little twerp."
CNN said it was a last-minute cancellation. Morgan had been hawking Akin's appearance all night. “You’re looking live at the empty chair,” Morgan said.
“We kept our word, I’m here,” Morgan said, and jokingly added, “It’s a nice empty chair.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and journalists Ben Smith and Nate Silver, discussed the controversy caused by Akin's comments that women's bodies shut down to prevent pregnancies in cases of "legitimate" rape.
Akin was running a tough campaign against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill in what was seen as the GOP's best chance of picking up a seat in the Senate. He has vowed to stay in the race despite pressure for him to drop out. The National Republican Senatorial Committee on Monday said it would provide him with no funds, a potentially crippling blow to his chances.
Morgan said McCaskill had declined to be on the show.
Watch the video below.
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