St. Louis (AP) - Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, a conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, has sparked a furor after saying women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in "a legitimate rape" and that conception is rare in such cases.
Akin, father of two daughters, is a six-term congressman running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill. He was asked in an interview on St. Louis television station KTVI if he would support abortions for women who have been raped.
"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said.
Akin said in an emailed statement later Sunday that he "misspoke" during the interview.
Romney rebuked Akin in a statement, and McCaskill called the comments "offensive."
(Copyright 2012 - Associated Press contributed to this story)
