msnbc   |  August 21, 2012

Akin’s Sept. 25 deadline

Congressman Todd Akin may not drop his Senate bid today, but NBC’s Domenico Montanaro reports his real deadline is likely Sept. 25th, the date that he would be locked into the ballot. Today is the last day he can drop out of the Missouri Senate race without having to pay ballot costs.

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>>> the push by national and state level republicans to get todd akin out of the senate race is approaching a boiling point. if he quits the race, the actions will be dictated by timetable in november. the questions remain, is he in or out and what happens if he stays or goes? we have our political editor joining us. we have information about the process and timetable.

>> september 25th , is what we are really looking at as the real deadline. with akin today, going up with this forgiveness ad, if you read the statute, it would have to be freely given the court order if it were challenged by the 25th, that akin would then have to pay the court costs . the statute clearly says it would be freely given. it is very unlikely that the secretary of state's office, which it happens to be a democrat, that they would be able to challenge akin being able to get off the ballot.

>> domenico , remind us he did not get an overwhelmingly mandate in missouri to face off against mccaskell. what were the options if he were to bow out who would they stick in there?

>> one name that came to the top of the list was jim talent . he said he would rule that out. we have seen people change their minds. he said he is not running for the senate. other was like a chance. if he drops out between now and september 25th , then we will see some macinations of those who would like to be considered. unlikely akin would pull out. see how this plays out. we will watch more closely for september 25th .

>> domenico , the previous deadline was 5:00 p.m . central time today. this would be drawn out until september 25th ?

>> as we written in first read, there are two deadlines. the one today that he could get off of the ballot freely. he would not have to pay any charges. what the state likes to do by september 25th , they have to print the ballots. they want to make sure that people don't pull out. in a serious situation where he wants to pull out and pay the ballot printing costs, they would allow.

>> domenico , thank you, sir. for all of the latest on the political news, download the political app available on itunes.