This August, it seemed that Rep. Todd Akin’s  candidacy for a Senate seat in Missouri was doomed. After commenting that victims of “legitimate rape”  biologically cannot conceive,  many expected Akin to drop out of the race. He lost the support of many within the Republican Party with this demonstration of his ignorance and lack of respect for victims of sexual violence.

But Akin refused to back down from the race against current Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.  After his initial announcement that he would stay in the race, fellow Republicans — most notably the National Republican Senatorial Committee — said they would not support him. Since then, Akin has had several opportunities to withdraw, but has not done so. His last opportunity passed last week, and Akin remains in the race. And now, he has recovered the backing he lost after his absurd and offensive comments.

The NRSC and other important GOP donors have reversed their position on Akin, and now, with less than a month to go before the election, they are once again supporting him. Several Republican senators who had urged Akin to drop out  are now providing him with endorsements, donations and fundraisers.

It seems these Republican leaders do not care as much about the issues as they do about gaining a majority in the Senate. The Missouri race is one of a handful this November that could tip the Senate into the hands of the GOP, and its leaders are not willing to give up that opportunity, even if this particular candidate does not match their values.

After the scandal initially broke, I was impressed that so many in the Republican Party came forward to denounce Akin and ask him to bow out of the race. It is rare for either of our major parties to censure one of their own, especially one in electoral trouble, but I thought the Republicans were doing this for all the right reasons.

I see now that I had reason to be surprised. It is entirely out of character for the GOP to do the right thing when it could cost them an election. The party leadership is now saying what I would have expected to hear from them in August — that Akin made a mistake, he misspoke, but he is still the man to represent Missourians as part of a Republican Senate majority.

Akin should not become a senator for many reasons. He lacks respect for women and for victims of rape. He lacks basic knowledge of how the reproductive system works; something that is important to understand in this age of endless healthcare and women’s health debates. He lacks the ability to admit he was wrong and the ability to back down from a battle he cannot win.

For all these reasons, Republican leaders should have stuck with their initial withdrawal of support. Winning a Senate majority for their party is not worth giving the power of a Senate seat to a man like Todd Akin.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Oct.8 print edition. Jessica Littman is deputy opinion editor. Email her at [email protected].