Akin vows to stay as support wanes

ST. LOUIS – Rep. Todd Akin fought to salvage his Senate campaign Monday, even as members of his own party turned against him and a key source of campaign funding was cut off in outrage over the Missouri congressman’s comments that women are able to prevent pregnancies in cases of “legitimate rape.”

Akin made no public appearances but went on former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s national radio show to apologize. He vowed to continue his bid for higher office.

“The good people of Missouri nominated me, and I’m not a quitter,” Akin said. “To quote my old friend John Paul Jones, I have not yet begun to fight.”

But Akin seemed to be losing political support by the hour as fellow Republicans urged him to abandon a race the party had long considered essential in their bid to regain control of the Senate. Incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill is seen as vulnerable in public opinion polls and because she has been a close ally of President Barack Obama.

An official with the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee said the group’s head, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, called Akin on Monday to tell him that the committee had withdrawn $5 million in advertising planned for the Missouri race. The official spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conversation was private.

At least one outside group that has pounded McCaskill with ads, the Karl Rove-backed Crossroads organization, also pulled its ads from Missouri.

Publicly, Cornyn called Akin’s comments “indefensible” and suggested he take 24 hours to consider “what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party and the values that he cares about and has fought for.”

The Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Akin’s remarks about rape may “prevent him from effectively representing” the Republican Party.

Two other Republican senators – Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – urged Akin to step aside from the Senate race.

The furor began Sunday in an interview on KTVI-TV in St. Louis. Asked if he would support abortions for women who have been raped, Akin said: “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 Sunday, Akin released a statement saying that he “misspoke.”

During the somber interview on Huckabee’s program, Akin apologized repeatedly, saying he made “serious mistakes” in his comments on KTVI.

“Rape is never legitimate. It’s an evil act. It’s committed by violent predators,” Akin said. “I used the wrong words the wrong way.” He later made a similar apology in an appearance on Sean Hannity’s radio show.

President Barack Obama said Akin’s comments underscore why politicians – most of whom are men – should not make health decisions on behalf of women.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said a woman who is raped “has no control over ovulation, fertilization or implantation of a fertilized egg. … To suggest otherwise contradicts basic biological truths.”

McCaskill was ready to move on, saying Akin should not be forced out of the race.