Rape row candidate insists on staying in running

Republican Congressman Todd Akin of Missouri has apologised for the comments, saying rape is “never legitimate,” but pledged to continue the race.

But the Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, said the remarks may “prevent him from effectively representing” the Republican Party and at least two Republican senators said he should resign the party’s nomination.

As his political support waned and he drew criticism from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, Mr Akin was faced problems paying for his campaign.

The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has withdrawn $5m (£2.9m) in advertising planned for the Missouri race, and at least one outside group that has pounded his opponent, Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill in advertising, also halted its Missouri campaign.

Mr Akin, an anti-abortion six-term congressman, is opposing Ms McCaskill in the November election. The race is seen as one of the Republicans’ best chances of defeating a Democratic incumbent as they try to gain control of the Senate. Missouri is an increasingly conservative state and Ms McCaskill has been targeted because of her strong ties to President Barack Obama.

Republican Chairman Reince Priebus said: “If it was me, I would step aside and let someone else run for that office.”

Mr Akin, who published an online advertisement and joined a radio talkshow yesterday to defend his position, said: “The good people of Missouri nominated me, and I’m not a quitter. And my belief is we’re going to take this thing forward and by the grace of God, we’re going to win this race.”

His political blunder, however, is an unwelcome distraction from Republican efforts to focus the battlefield on economic issues and next week’s Republican convention when Mr Romney and running mate Paul Ryan are expected to be nominated as the party’s candidates for President and Vice President.

Mr Akin was being quizzed about the Republican stance on abortion for women who become pregnant through rape when he said in a TV interview on Sunday: “It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Later he he said he “misspoke”, adding fuel to the row with an explanation he meant “forcible rape” as opposed to “legitimate rape”.

And as the storm took hold on Monday, he said in statement: “This weekend I made a mistake. I used the wrong words in the wrong way. What I said was ill-conceived and it was wrong and for that I apologize. I’m a dad of two daughters and I want tough justice for sexual predators and I’ve always had a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault.”

He said he was very sorry for his comments but with senior Republicans distancing themselves from the outcry, officials were looking for intermediaries trusted by Mr Akin to try to coax him from the race. Missouri election law allows candidates to withdraw 11 weeks before election day, otherwise a court order is needed.