CNN host Piers Morgan displayed the empty chair that Senate candidate Todd Akin would have sat in after the Missouri Republican cancelled an interview rather than face questions about his claim that women can't usually get pregnant from "legitimate rape."
Akin — who apologizes for the comments in a new political ad — said in an interview posted Sunday that "if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
See also: Todd Akin's 'Rape' Apology Ad (Video)
Morgan wanted to press him on that point. But Akin, after agreeing to an interview, backed out. So did his opponent, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
The "Piers Morgan Tonight" host said Akin has an "open invitation" to come on his show.
"If you don't keep your promise to be on the show, then you are what we would call in Britain, 'a gutless little twerp,'" said Morgan.
See also: Jon Stewart Interviews a Floor Fan (Video)
The empty chair is becoming an increasingly popular guest on cable news shows. In March, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell read his questions to an empty chair after an attorney for Trayvon Martin's killer, George Zimmerman, bailed on an interview at the last minute.
Jon Stewart, not to be outdone, later interviewed a floor fan on "The Daily Show."
But none of them had the clear chemistry that Morgan shares with the chair:
