Piers Morgan Slams 'Gutless' Akin After No-Show

Facing a firestorm over his rape comments, GOP Rep. Todd Akin backed out of a planned appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight yesterday, leaving the angry host addressing an empty chair. "Congressman, you have an open invitation to join me in that chair whenever you feel up to it," Morgan taunted. "Because if you don’t keep your promise to appear on the show, then you are, what we would call in Britain, a gutless little twerp." As Morgan discussed the issue with another guest, a small box on screen stayed focused on the Senate candidate's empty chair (which now has its own Twitter account).

Earlier on CNN, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus became the latest Republican to say Akin should exit the Missouri Senate race, reports Mediaite. Speaking to Erin Burnett, Priebus described Akin's remarks that some biological mechanism protects "legitimate rape" victims from pregnancy as "dumb," "bizarre," and "biologically stupid," adding: "If it was me, I would step aside and let someone else run for that office." Asked if Akin would be welcome at the Republican National Convention next month, Priebus said: "I would prefer that he not come." (More Todd Akin stories.)