On August 21, 2012, Republicans lost the 2012 election.

And not just the presidential election against incumbent Barack Obama. A number of their candidates vying for Senate positions have lost, and the GOP now has no chance at controlling the Senate.

The House remains unchanged, with the GOP controlling the majority. Still, in the House, Republicans have lost their clout, and are facing angry voters who will likely kick them from power come 2014.

The race had been a close one up until August 21 — with Obama leading the Republican ticket 47 percentage points to 46 for rival Mitt Romney. This poll was released just hours after August 21, and likely didn’t account for the happenings on that day. Subsequent monthly polls will see a higher lead margin for Obama.

The moment Republicans lost on August 21 came at exactly 6:01 p.m.

That was when it became clear that Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin would not be withdrawing from his position as the Republican nominee facing off against Clair McCaskill for the state’s Senate seat.

If you haven’t heard, on Sunday, the Tea Party-backed Akin (he isn’t 100% Tea Party, and wasn’t the “Tea Party candidate” in the GOP primary, but has been backed by the likes of Michele Bachmann, and has been dubbed a Tea Party member), made a completely over-the-top claim, stating that pregnancy is rare from "legitimate rape" because the woman's body has ways to "shut the whole thing down." Not surprisingly those remarks went viral on Twitter, then in the media, and Akin has since released a statement saying that he "misspoke."

The highest echelons of Republican leadership blasted Akin for his views, calling for him to step aside in the race. He will not withdraw, though, saying he won't be bullied out by "party bosses."

The deadline Akin missed was critical. It was the moment where he could completely walk away from the Missouri Senate race, and save the GOP face. He still can withdraw, but needs a court order to get his name off the ballot if he decides to drop out by Sept. 25. Realizing that Akin was about to undue everything for Republicans, newly minted vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan even called the Missouri congressman to talk him off the ledge, so to speak, and get him to walk away from his race before he caused epic chaos for the GOP.

But Akin jumped. And took the whole GOP with him.