Missouri Congressman Todd Akin on Tuesday vowed to stay in his state’s Senate race against incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (R-Mo.), despite facing heavy pressure from congressional Republicans to exit the race.
“We are going to continue with this race for the U.S. Senate,” Akin said on former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s radio show Tuesday.
Akin found himself in a political whirlwind after he made comments over the weekend alleging that pregnancies from “legitimate rape” are not commonplace because women have the biological capacity to prevent that from happening. The remarks led a number of prominent Missouri politicos to call for Akin to drop out of the race, but Akin believes he has the momentum to oust McCaskill.
“Is there a matter of some justice here that I misspoke one word in one sentence in one day and all of a sudden overnight everybody decides ‘Well, Akin can’t possibly win,’” Akin said . “I don’t agree with that.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee blasted Akin’s stand to stay in the Missouri Senate race.
“It should not be lost on anyone that some of the only voices not calling for Congressman Akin to do the right thing and step aside are Claire McCaskill and the leaders of the pro-abortion movement. Senator McCaskill knows that the only way she wins re-election is if Todd Akin is her opponent in November,” NRSC Brian Walsh said in a statement. “We continue to hope that Congressman Akin will do the right thing for the values he holds dear, but there should be no mistake – if he continues with this misguided campaign, it will be without the support and resources of the NRSC.”
Akin’s refusal to drop out has GOP leaders concerned it could cost them the seat and, subsequently, a chance at snatching the Senate majority from Democrats.
