ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota Democrat who had a rest-stop sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy dropped his re-election bid Wednesday, hours after declaring he would stay in the race in defiance of party leaders who wanted him out as they fight to regain control of the state Legislature.

Rep. Kerry Gauthier, 56, told The Associated Press the decision was his own after multiple conversations with Democratic leaders pressing him to withdraw. He said he had been going back and forth about running "every 20 minutes for a week."

"I changed my mind," he said. "Too much. It's just too much." Full story.

H/t keithincda

So Gauthier, er, backs out, but Akin slogs onward. While Gauthier's actions are criminal in nature, Akin's are criminally stupid. Are these men really the best America has to offer the political arena?

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