As part of his effort to keep his place on the November ballot, Representative Todd Akin, Republican of Missouri, released an ad Tuesday in which he asks for viewers' forgiveness for his comments Sunday about rape.
“Rape is an evil act,†Mr. Akin says in the ad as he looks directly into the camera.
Mr. Akin, who is in a high-profile race against Senator Claire McCaskill, had said victims of “legitimate†rape, rarely got pregnant because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.â€
The comment touched off howls of protest, including from Mr. Akin's fellow Republicans, many of whom urged him to quit his race for the Senate. The strong response indicated the centrality that Ms. McCaskill's seat has assumed in the Republican game plan to retake the Senate in November.
Mr. Akin said he would not quit, and the new ad appears to be the first step in a campaign to rally support to keep his place on the ballot.
His mistake, Mr, Akin says in the ad was in his word choice, “not in the heart I hold.†Mr Akin also says in the spot that he understands that a woman can get pregnant from a rape and he prays for the victims. He concludes by saying, “I ask for your forgiveness.â€
The ad was paid for by his Senate campaign committee.
