Top Republicans in the Senate moved quickly Monday to nudge Rep. Todd Akin out of his Senate race in Missouri after he made controversial comments about rape, but Akin indicated that he had no intention of stepping aside.
Both Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, all but told Akin to give up his race.
In defending his view that abortion should not be available to women even in cases of rape, Akin had told an interviewer in remarks released Sunday that pregnancies resulting from rape were rare because women’s bodies shut down in a way that prevented pregnancy.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down,” Akin said.
The comments elicited reactions of outrage from across the political spectrum, including from Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who called them “insulting, inexcusable and, frankly, wrong.”
McConnell called the congressman’s comments “totally inexcusable” and “flat wrong,” adding, “I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election.”
At least two other Republican senators — Scott P. Brown of Massachusetts and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin — called for Akin to end his Senate campaign immediately.
The swift rebukes of Akin by members of his own party were a sign of how important women’s votes are in many states where Republicans are in close contests with Democratic challengers.
Appearing Monday afternoon on Mike Huckabee’s radio program, Akin, a six-term congressman who is backed by the Tea Party, said he would not drop out.
“I’m not a quitter,” he said. “My belief is we’re going to take this thing forward, and by the grace of God, we’re going to win this race.”
But he also backtracked on his comments.
“Rape is never legitimate,” he said. “It’s an evil act that’s committed by violent predators. I used the wrong words in the wrong way.”
Nonetheless, his comments exposed a rift in the party over abortion, not least of all between Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul D. Ryan.
Romney’s initial statement said that a Romney-Ryan administration “would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.” Ryan, however, opposes abortion even in cases of rape. The only circumstance in which he approves of it is to save the life of the mother.
By midafternoon, President Barack Obama had joined in the condemnation of Akin’s remarks. He said Akin’s comments showed “why we shouldn’t have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making health care decisions on behalf of women.”
