NEW YORK (PNN) - August 31, 2012 - It's probably no exaggeration to say that Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican nominee for the senate race in Missouri, who caused an uproar with his comments about rape, has become one of the least popular figures within the GOP.

How unpopular? Just look at the joke Republican master strategist Karl Rove made during a fundraiser:

"We should sink Todd Akin. If he's found mysteriously murdered, don't look for my whereabouts!"

That quote was reported by Bloomberg’s Business Week today. Reporter Sheelah Kolhatkar was invited to "an exclusive breakfast briefing to about 70 of the Republican party's highest-earning and most powerful donors." No one at the breakfast seemed to notice that a reporter was in the room, which explains the candid comments.

Even when talking directly to reporters, Rove has also expressed his displeasure with Akin. A few days ago, he said that Akin would lose big.

"I know Todd. He's a good man. He has a good heart," said Rove. "But he said a real stupid, indefensible thing from which there's no recovery; and if he really cares about the values of conservatism and pro-life, then he will not go down in defeat with the biggest loss of any Republican candidate for Senate in modern history.”