ST. LOUIS (AP) – Congressman Todd Akin says he was wrong in claiming that women’s bodies are able to prevent pregnancies in “a legitimate rape” situation and that conception is rare in such cases.

The Missouri Republican Senate candidate went on Mike Huckabee’s national radio show Monday to apologize for comments that aired Sunday on KTVI-TV in St. Louis. Akin’s comments to KTVI’s Charles Jaco created a furor that has included calls from some Senate Republicans for him to get out of the race.

Akin says he made a serious error but did not elaborate about how he made the mistake. He vowed to continue his campaign despite calls within his own party for his ouster, saying he’s not the first politician to suffer from what he called “foot-in-mouth disease.”

He later tweeted that he is “in this race to win.”

I am in this race to win. We need a conservative Senate. Help me defeat Claire by donating: secure.campaignsolutions.com/toddakin/donat… #mosen

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Todd Akin (@ToddAkin) August 20, 2012

Reince Priebus, chairman of the National Republican Committee, joined Mark Reardon on KMOX Monday afternoon to discuss Todd Akin and Paul Ryan.

At 6:00 p.m. Monday, the Akin campaign released a statement.

“This weekend I made a mistake. I used the wrong words in the wrong way,” the statement reads. ”What I said was ill-conceived and it was wrong and for that I apologize. I’m a dad of two daughters and I want tough justice for sexual predators and I’ve always had a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault.”

“The people from Missouri that elected me know I’m not perfect. We all make mistakes. When you make a mistake what you need to do is tell people you’re sorry. Don’t try and hide it. That’s why I have repeatedly said that I am very sorry for my comments.”

“Just because somebody makes a mistake doesn’t make them useless. We need a conservative in the United States Senate, and I am running to replace Claire McCaskill and get our country back on track.”

Related Articles:

• Akin Tries To Explain “Legitimate Rape” Comment, Backs Out Of KMOX Appearance
• Akin Can Still Withdraw from Race
• Governor Nixon Criticizes Akin’s Comments
• AP Source: Funding Drying Up for Todd Akin

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