Despite encouragement from fellow Republicans, Representative Todd Akin has refused to exit a tight Senate race in Missouri. Following comments he made about rape, a?new poll shows?his lead ahead of?Democratic Senator?Claire McCaskill has narrowed from 10 points to 1.
US Rep. Todd Akin (R) of Missouri announces his candidacy for US Senate in Creve Coeur, Mo., earlier this year.
Jeff Roberson/AP
EnlargeCongressman?Todd Akin, under fire for controversial remarks on abortion and rape, insisted on Tuesday he would not leave the?Missouri Senate?race, despite pressure from fellow?Republicans?and talk of who might replace him on the Nov. 6 ballot.
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Rep. Todd Akin, the GOP candidate for the Missouri Senate seat, refused to drop out despite his controversial comments about rape and abortion. Now, as Wyatt Andrews reports, the Republicans' chances of taking back the Senate are looking bleak.Akin - a staunch abortion opponent - vowed to stay in the contest against Democratic Senator?Claire McCaskill, indicating he represents a conservative movement that must be heard.
A 5 p.m. local time (6 p.m. EDT) deadline passed with no indication he planned to take his name off the ballot.
Akin?was defiant. His campaign posted a new web site on Tuesday seeking donations with a banner "I'm pro-life and I Stand with?Todd Akin." It had briefly featured a picture of a fetus and a picture of McCaskill with U.S. President Barack Obama, but the fetus image was later removed.
"We are going to continue in this race for U.S.?Senate," Akin?told "The Mike Huckabee Show," a radio program hosted by the former?Arkansas?governor.
Republican presidential candidate?Mitt Romney?on Tuesday joined the chorus calling for him to pull out of his race after Akin?claimed in a weekend television interview that it was extremely rare for women to get pregnant from "legitimate rape."
"Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the?Senate?race," said Romney, who previously condemned Akin's comments.
The outrage over Akin's remarks sent waves of anxiety through the?Republican Party?a week before it reaches out to independent voters, especially women, at its national convention where it will nominate Romney to run against Obama.
Republicans?fear the Akin?episode could prevent them from winning in?Missouri, lessening their chances of picking up the four seats they need ensure a majority in the 100-member?Senate.
McCaskill had trailed Akin?by about 10 points but a Public Policy Polling survey on Monday had Akin?ahead by 1 point.
What about jobs?
To the dismay of many?Republicans, Akin's woes have cast a spotlight on a part of the platform party members again endorsed on Tuesday: a call to oppose abortion with no mention of exceptions in cases of rape and incest.
That is not the position of Romney, who has said abortion should be allowed to end pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.
Obama, who supports abortion rights, also strongly denounced Akin's remarks, saying "rape is rape."
Romney's vice presidential running mate, U.S. Representative?Paul Ryan?of?Wisconsin, has expressed a harder line on abortion, saying it should be allowed only to save the life of the mother. The campaign said this week a Romney/Ryan administration would reflect Romney's position.
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