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| Congressman Todd Akin again refuses to quit Senate race | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US candidate Todd Akin, who caused uproar by claiming women's bodies could prevent pregnancy in cases of rape, has again refused to stand aside. | US candidate Todd Akin, who caused uproar by claiming women's bodies could prevent pregnancy in cases of rape, has again refused to stand aside. |
| Appearing on conservative talk radio, the Republican congressman defied intense pressure from the party to bow out of the Missouri Senate race. | Appearing on conservative talk radio, the Republican congressman defied intense pressure from the party to bow out of the Missouri Senate race. |
| He has asked to be forgiven for Sunday's remarks on "legitimate rape", which prompted outrage and bafflement. | He has asked to be forgiven for Sunday's remarks on "legitimate rape", which prompted outrage and bafflement. |
| The gaffe could sink his challenge to Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. | The gaffe could sink his challenge to Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. |
| Correspondents say Republicans fear the backlash could endanger their campaign to win control of the US Senate in November's elections. | Correspondents say Republicans fear the backlash could endanger their campaign to win control of the US Senate in November's elections. |
| On conservative radio host Mike Huckabee's show on Tuesday, Mr Akin announced he would not be quitting the race. | On conservative radio host Mike Huckabee's show on Tuesday, Mr Akin announced he would not be quitting the race. |
| The sixth-term lawmaker said he was staying in because there were voters who did not feel represented by the major political parties. | The sixth-term lawmaker said he was staying in because there were voters who did not feel represented by the major political parties. |
| 'Evil act' | 'Evil act' |
| Last week Mr Akin had a comfortable lead in opinion polls over Senator McCaskill in the Midwestern state of Missouri, which has leaned increasingly conservative in recent years. | Last week Mr Akin had a comfortable lead in opinion polls over Senator McCaskill in the Midwestern state of Missouri, which has leaned increasingly conservative in recent years. |
| Then on Sunday, he was asked by local news station KTVI-TV about his no-exceptions view on abortion. | Then on Sunday, he was asked by local news station KTVI-TV about his no-exceptions view on abortion. |
| The 65-year-old congressman replied: "It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that is really rare. | The 65-year-old congressman replied: "It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that is really rare. |
| "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." | "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." |
| The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said Mr Akin's claim "contradicts basic biological truths". | The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said Mr Akin's claim "contradicts basic biological truths". |
| He also went on Mr Huckabee's radio on Monday to resist calls from prominent Republicans to drop out of the race. | He also went on Mr Huckabee's radio on Monday to resist calls from prominent Republicans to drop out of the race. |
| In a face-to-face video message on Tuesday, Mr Akin said: "Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologise. | In a face-to-face video message on Tuesday, Mr Akin said: "Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologise. |
| He added: "Fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness." | He added: "Fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness." |
| Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, swiftly distanced themselves from Mr Akin. | Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, swiftly distanced themselves from Mr Akin. |
| 'Gutless little twerp' | 'Gutless little twerp' |
| Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, said the Missouri congressman's remarks might "prevent him from effectively representing" the party. | Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, said the Missouri congressman's remarks might "prevent him from effectively representing" the party. |
| He said Mr Akin should "take time with his family" to consider his candidacy. | He said Mr Akin should "take time with his family" to consider his candidacy. |
| The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has reportedly told Mr Akin that $5m (£3.2m) in advertising set aside for Missouri would now be spent elsewhere. | The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has reportedly told Mr Akin that $5m (£3.2m) in advertising set aside for Missouri would now be spent elsewhere. |
| The Karl Rove-backed Crossroads organisation also pulled its ads from Missouri. | The Karl Rove-backed Crossroads organisation also pulled its ads from Missouri. |
| President Barack Obama also criticised Mr Akin on Monday, saying "rape is rape". | President Barack Obama also criticised Mr Akin on Monday, saying "rape is rape". |
| But Senator McCaskill, whose campaign appears reinvigorated by the fallout from her Republican challenger's slip-up, did not join calls for him to stand aside. | But Senator McCaskill, whose campaign appears reinvigorated by the fallout from her Republican challenger's slip-up, did not join calls for him to stand aside. |
| She said Republicans were trying to "kick sand in the face" of their party's voters in Missouri who selected Mr Akin this month as their candidate. | She said Republicans were trying to "kick sand in the face" of their party's voters in Missouri who selected Mr Akin this month as their candidate. |
| On Monday evening, CNN television host Piers Morgan labelled Mr Akin a "gutless little twerp" for pulling out of an appearance on his show. | On Monday evening, CNN television host Piers Morgan labelled Mr Akin a "gutless little twerp" for pulling out of an appearance on his show. |
US media reacts | US media reacts |
| The Daily Beast said the decicion to abandon Mr Akin was a political one: "For Cornyn, the Romney campaign and other Republican leaders, the real problem with Akin's comments were less about semantics and more about raw politics." | The Daily Beast said the decicion to abandon Mr Akin was a political one: "For Cornyn, the Romney campaign and other Republican leaders, the real problem with Akin's comments were less about semantics and more about raw politics." |
| A New York Times editorial says that while Republicans are distancing themselves from Akin's comments, his views are not unheard-of, and "expose a widely held belief among many fierce abortion opponents that a rape exception will be abused by women whose rapes were not 'legitimate'". | A New York Times editorial says that while Republicans are distancing themselves from Akin's comments, his views are not unheard-of, and "expose a widely held belief among many fierce abortion opponents that a rape exception will be abused by women whose rapes were not 'legitimate'". |
| Politico says the Republican reaction highlights how important they consider the race in Missouri to be: "It's a rare recent occasion in which all of the disparate GOP factions have come to the same conclusion. As much as anything else, it's a reflection of the stakes of the Missouri Senate seat." | Politico says the Republican reaction highlights how important they consider the race in Missouri to be: "It's a rare recent occasion in which all of the disparate GOP factions have come to the same conclusion. As much as anything else, it's a reflection of the stakes of the Missouri Senate seat." |
| But the Washington Post says that Mr Akin's comments could ultimately become a "net positive" for the Republican Party: "Arguably, one huge disaster now for the GOP in Missouri is preferable to a series of smaller scale rough patches heading toward November." | But the Washington Post says that Mr Akin's comments could ultimately become a "net positive" for the Republican Party: "Arguably, one huge disaster now for the GOP in Missouri is preferable to a series of smaller scale rough patches heading toward November." |