Todd Akin reaffirms decision to stay in Missouri Senate race

At a press conference in Chesterfield, the deeply conservative politician told reporters: "We are going to be here through the November election, and we are going to be here to win."

The defiant message comes despite senior members of his own party – including presidential contender Mitt Romney – calling on him to quit following his claim that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy.

Reaffirming his refusal to acquiesce to party demands, Akin added: "I may not be the favourite candidate of some people within the Republican establishment, but the voters made a decision."

Polls have shown that the Missouri congressman's chances of being elevated to the Senate have slumped since his ham-fisted attempt to justify a no exception policy on abortion during an interview on Sunday.

Almost two-thirds of voters now view him unfavourably. Meanwhile he trails by a full 10 points to his Democrat opponent Claire McCaskill. A poll this week put her ahead on 48% to Akin's 38%.

It is marked turnaround in the race for a Missouri Senate seat, which many people were tipping Akin to take comfortably. A week ago, one survey put the Republican candidate ahead by as much as nine points

That was until Sunday's interview with KTVI-TV, in which he attempted to explain why he was against abortion, even in the case of pregnancy resulting from rape.

He told the local station that "from what I understand from doctors, that is really rare", adding: "If it is legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down".

The comments sparked outrage, with prominent members of both political
parties condemning the remarks.

Akin later said he "misspoke" but the clarification did little to halt the tide of criticism.

President Barack Obama said the comments were "offensive". In a rare attendance at a regular White House briefing to the press, he added:
"Rape is rape". He later went on to ridicule Akin for being a member of the House's science and technology committee who appears to have "missed science class".

Romney was also quick to distance himself from the Missouri candidate, stating that the comments were "inexcusable" and calling on Akin to step aside for another Republican candidate.

But the Senate candidate has defied party bigwigs, and repeatedly refused to step away from the Senate race.

"This is an election, not a selection," he said on Friday, in an apparent swipe at those within the GOP higher echelon who have been demanding that he go.

His refusal to bend to party demands will likely act as an irritant to Romney as he heads to the Republican convention in Tampa, which starts on Monday.

This article was written by Matt Williams in New York, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 24th August 2012 23.28 Europe/London

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