Rep. Todd Akin, Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, Todd Akin, said Sunday that victims of “legitimate rape” don’t get pregnant.
“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV in during the interview. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
The Republican nominee said that even in the worst-case scenario — when the supposed natural protections against unwanted pregnancy fail — abortion should still not be a legal avenue for the rape victim.
“Let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work, or something,” Akin said. “I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
Akin's comments had an almost immediate impact on Missouri's Senate race. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, said on Tweeter: “As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases,I'm stunned by Rep Akin's comments about victims this.”
In a statement, Akin said that he had misspoken.
"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," he said.
Akin emerged earlier this month from a tough three-way primary in Missouri, where he rallied social conservatives behind his candidacy. Democrats actually spent during that primary to help Akin win, viewing the six-term congressman as a less formidable challenger in the general election.
McCaskill, who was first elected in 2006, has become a top target for Republicans this fall, given President Barack Obama's unpopularity in the state and successive statewide victories for the GOP.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney issued a statement disagreeing with Akin.
