Missouri Rep. Todd Akin again rejected dropping out of the Missouri Senate rate amid Republican fears that he's become too politically toxic to win. 

"We're going to be here through the November election, and we're going to be here to win," Akin said at a press conference in Missouri arranged on short notice. 

The conservative congressman has been under fire since last Sunday, when he said on a public affairs show that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy. For that comment, Akin has apologized, but virtually the entire Republican leadership — including presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney — have urged Akin to step aside, and allow Republicans to name a different candidate for Senate.

Akin has spent the past few days in Tampa, the site of the forthcoming Republican National Convention, rallying social conservative leaders behind his flailing candidacy. 

"Our position on him and his candidacy has not changed," Tony Perkins, of the socially conservative Family Research Council, said Thursday on MSNBC.  "He has a very difficult road ahead of him, and I think he's still pondering his decision as to what he does, although at this point, he said he's going to stay in."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a prominent supporter of Akin's in a hard-fought, three-way primary, also came to the congressman's defense. 

"Who ordered this "Code Red" on Akin?" Huckabee asked supporters in an email on Thursday. "If Todd Akin loses the Senate seat, I will not blame Todd Akin … I'm waiting for the apology from whoever the genius was on the high pedestals of our party who thought it wise to not only shoot our wounded, but run over him with tanks and trucks and then feed his body to the liberal wolves."

The Missouri Senate race is crucial to Republicans' hopes of winning back the Senate. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill had been seen as vulnerable, though she's seen as having a political advantage after Akin's comments. She has refused to address the controversy over Akin's campaign fortunes, saying only that she expects to face him as her general election opponent. 

Akin could still drop out by Sept. 25, allowing the state GOP to name a replacement. Akin would have to ask a court to remove his name from the ballot in that instance, and pay for the cost of reprinting the ballots. 

Republicans needn't worry about Hurricane Issac bearing down on Tampa next week; "Hurricane Todd" Akin has already overshadowed the GOP's national convention, according to Obama campaign officials.

Senior brass from the president's re-election team told reporters that the Florida-based convention had already been marred by Missouri Rep. Todd Akin's controversial suggestion earlier this week that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy.

"Hurricane Todd has already borne down on Tampa and the damage has been done.  And I don’t think that whether he stays on the ballot is that material," a senior campaign official told reporters gathered for a background briefing in Washington when asked whether they wanted to see Akin stay on the ballot in Missouri.

Akin has weathered demands from senior Republicans, including Mitt Romney, to step aside from his race to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri. Though Akin has since apologized for his initial comments about rape, his political brand has become toxic, and has jeopardized not only Republicans' chances of winning back the Senate, but also the GOP's hopes of making inroads with women voters nationally.

To that end, the Obama campaign has sought to tie Akin to vice presidential contender Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and the Romney campaign as a whole.

“It is true that Paul Ryan is, on these issues, Todd Akin’s ideological twin,” an Obama campaign official said.

The official went on to say: “This is the most radical ticket on these issues, and not just on women’s health and choice issues, but also on pay equity issues, things that are fundamental to women in this country. So, you know, we’ve earned the gender gap through the advocacy of the president ... but there’s no doubt that they have contributed to that through their positions and now through the appointment of Congressman Ryan."

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that voters are far more confident in President Barack Obama’s ability to deal with issues of concern to women than Mitt Romney.

The Obama campaign also continued its attempt to frame the Republican Party -- and specifically, the convention -- as only catering to a very conservative base.

“They have no ability to expand the electorate.  They have looked at the Latino vote, the fastest growing voting block in this country and have decided to send out [Kansas Secretary of State Kris] Kobach to be their person at the convention.  They’re going to have [Sheriff] Joe Arpaio speak.  I mean, I may pay to livestream that.  That is going to be a great moment for the Obama campaign,” one campaign official joked.

(Kobach is known for co-authoring Arizona’s controversial immigration bill that was partially upheld by the Supreme Court this year. Sheriff Arpaio is known for his outspoken opposition to illegal immigration, and is currently being sued by the Department of Justice for “discriminatory and otherwise unconstitutional law enforcement actions against Latinos.” He'll be speaking not on the convention stage, but to a small group of Western state Republicans.)

As for the tradition of the opposing party keeping a low profile during the convention, the Obama campaign dismissed that notion.

“It’s not unprecedented for principals to be out,” said one campaign official, noting that there are 75 more days until the election. "We’re going to use each and every one of those days and make the most of it."

The Obama campaign's counterprogramming will include a presidential college tour in Iowa, Colorado and Virginia to highlight “the stark choice of going forward or moving back." Vice President Joe Biden will also be in Florida for two days next week, including a stop in Tampa on Monday.  

“Again, 75 days left, Florida is a critical state. We’re not going to cede that state for four days just because they’re having their convention.”  The official continued, “I don’t think that they’re going to hold back during out convention.”

Other topics addressed in the briefing:

THE RYAN EFFECT:  The Obama campaign said the pick of Paul Ryan gave little or no bump to the Romney campaign. After pointing out that Sen. John McCain received a nine point bump after the picking Sarah Palin, a campaign official noted,” Ryan failed the Palin test here and he is a point underwater.”

MEDICARE: “We’re happy to have this debate,” a campaign official said about Medicare while accusing Ryan of having concocted a "voucher plan" multiple times. The official said the debate over Medicare is not one Republicans are poised to win.

BILL CLINTON AS A PRINCIPAL: Expect to see the former president out on the campaign trail stumping for the current president a great deal after the Democratic National Convention is over. On top of a prime speaking spot at the convention and a new commercial in support of Obama’s economic plan, Clinton is willing to give “a significant amount of time” stumping for the campaign.  Obama officials believe he is an “important messenger.”

PERSUASION, REGISTRATION, TURN OUT:  Those three words are the story the Obama campaign wants to have told right now. They believe their registration ground game in swing states far surpasses Romney’s and that will make up for the amount of money being spent by outside political groups that support Romney’s campaign. “Our numbers are going to continue to outpace 2008 in both registration and voter contact,” one official said. While there is more they admit they need to get done on the ground, they showed confidence in their ability to register even more voters in the fall when colleges and universities start classes again. “You haven’t seen nothing yet, because kids are coming back to campuses.  What we learned in 2008 is you will see a major increase in the fall” in terms of voter registration said the same official.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan admitted Wednesday that he told Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) to end his bid for the U.S. Senate, and noted he is “comfortable” with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s stance on abortion.

Akin “should have dropped out of the race,” Ryan told reporters on his campaign plane while flying from Virginia to North Carolina. “But he is not, he is going to run his campaign and we are going to run ours.”

The single phone call between Ryan and Akin, according to the Wisconsin congressman, went how “you would imagine.” There are no additional plans to speak with Akin going forward in order to convince the Missouri congressman to reconsider continuing his bid to replace current Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

Ryan, who co-sponsored anti-abortion legislation with Akin, said he is proud of his opposition to abortion rights, and brushed off the vote as a bi-partisan measure. The House Budget Chairman is on board with Romney's position on abortion rights moving forward.

Related: Ryan on Akin: 'Rape is rape'

"Look I'm proud of my record," Ryan said. “Mitt Romney is going to be president and the president sets policy. His policy is exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. I'm comfortable with it because it's a good step in the right direction."

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign criticized this switch on Ryan’s beliefs.

“As a Republican leader in the House, Paul Ryan worked with Todd Akin to try to narrow the definition of rape and outlaw abortion even for rape victims. He may hope that American women never learn about this record, but they deserve an answer to why he wanted to redefine rape and remove protections for rape victims,” campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith wrote in a statement.

ROANOKE, VA -- Presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan became the latest politician to weigh in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) comments about "legitimate rape.”
 
In an interview with the CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA, Ryan tried to distance himself from Akin, with whom he once co-sponsored a bill to re-define "forcible rape," asserting on Tuesday night that “rape is rape.”

“His statements were outrageous, over the pail. I don’t know anybody who would agree with that. Rape is rape period, end of story,” Ryan told KDKA

And asked if abortions should be available to women who are raped, the seven-term Wisconsin congressman said he stands by his record.

“Look, I’m proud of my pro-life record. And I stand by my pro-life record in Congress. It’s something I’m proud of. But Mitt Romney is the top of the ticket and Mitt Romney will be president and he will set the policy of the Romney administration,” Ryan said.

Akin, the Missouri congressman who is currently running for Senate, sparked a firestorm this week when he said if a woman is a victim of "legitimate rape," her body can shut itself down in order to prevent pregnancy.

Many top Republicans called for Akin to exit the race for so that the GOP would have a better chance of winning this key Senate race. Akin confirmed on the TODAY Show Wednesday morning that Ryan himself called Akin and personally asked him to withdraw from the race.

“Paul Ryan did give me a call and he felt that I had to make a decision. He advised me that it would be good for me to step down,” Akin said in the interview with NBC’s Matt Laur. “I told him that I was going to be looking at this very seriously, trying to weigh all the different points on this—and that I would make the decision. Because it’s not about me. It’s about trying to do the right thing and standing on principle. “

Neither Romney nor Ryan have addressed the Akin comments on the stump this week. Ryan spent Wednesday morning in Virginia – his fourth day in the state in the 12 days he has been running as Romney’s VP – highlighting just how important the commonwealth is in winning the election this November for Republicans.

“I’ve been coming to Virginia a lot these days, if you haven’t noticed that,” Ryan said, adding later that Virginia has a key role in saving “the American idea.”

“It is not too late to ignite the American dream. We can do this. We need the leadership now. We need to win this election. And Virginians of all people have a unique responsibility and an opportunity to deliver Virginia and save the American idea," he said.

And Ryan was quick to play the part of the attack dog for the GOP ticket accusing President Obama of touting an “imaginary recovery.”

“We've got 23 million people out of work, struggling to find work today, unemployment has been above 8 percent for 42 months, and the real unemployment rate is more like 15 percent,” Ryan said about the Obama-Biden administration while speaking outside Northwest Hardware. “He said that the private sector is doing just fine, we need more government. This is President Obama's imaginary recovery. It's not here.”

Ryan now heads to North Carolina where he will hold two public campaign events there over the next two days.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney called on Rep. Todd Akin (R) to end his bid for Senate in Missouri.

"As I said yesterday, Todd Akin's comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country," Romney said in a statement. "Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race."

Akin could end his campaign without much difficulty before 5 p.m. CST on Tuesday; if he were to press forward with his candidacy, he could still withdraw by Sept. 25, but would have to ask a court to remove his name from the ballot, and would have to pay the costs associated with reprinting ballots. In either case, the Missouri GOP would pick a new candidate.

The six-term congressman has weathered growing clamor to end his candidacy since saying this weekend that "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy. He is trying to unseat incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) this fall in a race critical to Republicans' hopes of retaking control of the Senate.

Updated 6:12 p.m. - Rep. Todd Akin (R) did not step aside as the Republican Senate nominee in Missouri, allowing a key preliminary deadline to end his candidacy to come and go.

Akin, who's faced growing clamor from fellow Republicans to end his candidacy amid an uproar over his weekend comments about rape, said he believes it is important for him to press forward with his campaign against incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

"I want to make one thing absolutely clear: we are going to continue with this race," Akin said on the radio show of Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Senate candidate.

"I've had a chance now to run through a primary. And the party people said that when you run through a primary, we'll be with you."

Akin had until 5 p.m. CST today to resign his Senate nomination without facing any procedural difficulties. He could still withdraw by Sept. 25, though he would have to petition a court to remove his name from the ballot, and have to pay costs associated with reprinting the ballots.

National Republicans have undertaken efforts to force the six-term congressman from the race. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has canceled its advertising reservations, and a pro-Republican super PAC has said it no longer plans to invest in the campaign, either. Top Republican senators have also canceled a planned fundraiser for Akin on Sept. 19.

Akin said he'd seen an influx of small-dollar donations since the initial uproar emerged on Sunday, and he said he'd received supportive calls from other colleagues in Congress, though he did not say who.

More significantly, national Republicans have begun openly agitating for Akin's ouster. Missouri's past five Republican senators released a joint statement today saying "the right decision is to step aside."

Orlin Wagner / AP

Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., talks with reporters while attending the Governor's Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo.

Akin's controversy stems from comments he made last weekend on "The Jaco Report" on KTVI FOX 2 News, on which he said "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy in victims. Akin has since apologized, and said he was mistaken to assert that rape culdn't result in pregnancy. He released a television ad to that effect this morning.

Republicans had high hopes of beating McCaskill before Akin made his comments over the weekend. But the congressman's persistence in the race could jeopardize the GOP's chances in this key race, which provides one of their best opportunities to achieve the net gain of four seats Republicans need this fall to take control of the Senate in the next Congress.

Updated 10:53 a.m. - Mitt Romney called a Missouri Republican's comments this weekend about rape "inexcusable," calling on Rep. Todd Akin to "correct" his remarks.

"Congressman’s Akin comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong,” Romney told the conservative National Review Online. “Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee joined a growing chorus of Republicans in condemning Akin's comments Sunday that "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy for victims.

"I have an entirely different view," Romney told NRO of Akin's remarks. “What he said is entirely without merit and he should correct it."

Akin's comments threaten to shake up his effort to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill this fall. That race is a key stepping stone in Republicans' effort to achieve the net gain of four seats they need to retake control of the Senate.

The controversy has already sparked national reverberations, however. Romney has lagged versus Obama with women voters, according to polls; his comments this morning follow on a spokeswoman's comments on Sunday quickly distancing Romney and presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan from Akin. (Ryan, Democrats note, did co-sponsor with Akin a bill that would have redefined rape under portions of law.)

Evan Vucci / AP

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at Hyannis-Barnstable Municipal airport on Aug. 18.

Other Republicans have similarly denounced Akin.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) called on Akin to resign his Senate nomination.

"While Congressman Akin may have addressed his statement, like many men and women I strongly disapprove of his original comments — and the sentiments behind them," said former Virginia Sen. George Allen (R), who's trying to reclaim his old seat this fall.

Updated 8:55 p.m. — A Republican Senate nominee found himself in hot water on Sunday for suggesting that instances of "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy. 

Rep. Todd Akin, a Republican who's locked in a hard-fought campaign in Missouri to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, was answering a question regarding his position on abortion rights in instances when a woman is a victim of rape. 

"People always want to make it into one of those things — well, how do you slice this particularly tough ethical question," Akin said in an interview on KTVI-TV, video of which was circulated by the Democratic super PAC American Bridge. 

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancy from rape] is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said. 

Regarding his opinion on whether to allow for an abortion in such instances, Akin added: “But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”

Akin's comments had an almost immediate impact on Missouri's Senate race. McCaskill wrote on Twitter:

In a statement, Akin said that he had misspoken. 

"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," he said.

Akin emerged earlier this month from a tough three-way primary in Missouri, where he rallied social conservatives behind his candidacy. Democrats actually spent during that primary to help Akin win, viewing the six-term congressman as a less formidable challenger in the general election. 

McCaskill, who was first elected in 2006, has become a top target for Republicans this fall, given President Barack Obama's unpopularity in the state and successive statewide victories for the GOP. 

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign issued a statement disagreeing with Akin. 

"Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

Republicans need a net gain of four seats this fall in order to take over the Senate in the next Congress, and Democrats must defend 23 seats this fall. But unexpected Republican retirements and races that have become more competitive than expected have boosted Democratic hopes of maintaining their majority. 

MISSOURI: Claire McCaskill went on Fox and Friends this morning touting her moderate bona fides, including that she was rated 50 on scale of 1-100 of senators and is against earmarks, which Akin is for.

WISCONSIN: The man running against Ryan this fall in his congressional district, Rob Zerban, says he’s raised $75,000 since Ryan was picked.

KANSAS: “Backed by a waterfall of dollars from political action committees and other outside groups, conservative Republican senate candidates won all but a few key races over Republicans who were labeled more moderate during bruising campaigns,” the Wichita Eagle writes. “The victories will likely pave the way for Gov. Sam Brownback’s agenda for at least the next two years, although general election challenges by Democrats could change that.”

More: “Statewide, nine incumbent Republican senators, including Senate President Steve Morris, were poised to lose their positions as an onslaught of conservative challengers with strong backing from the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and other political groups won over the relative modest percent of voters who turned out to vote.”

What’s behind what happened: “Republicans have long dominated state politics, but in 2010, limited government candidates aligned more with tea party ideals than traditional Republican thinking, took over most of state government, led by Gov. Sam Brownback. Brownback made cutting taxes, shrinking government and privatizing services for the poor and disabled the cornerstone of his agenda. He has consistent support from the House, where Republicans hold a powerful 92-33 majority. But his plans have met resistance in the Senate, where Democrats and moderate Republicans formed a majority to block some of the most aggressive parts of Brownback’s agenda.”

And: “Koch Industries gave $125,000 to the Kansas Chamber of Commerce PAC, which announced support for Brownback-aligned conservative candidates late last year and gave hundreds of thousands to conservative candidates who sought to defeat incumbent Republican senators. Koch gave another $20,000 to the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce PAC, fueling similar ads aimed at knocking out incumbent Republicans the Chamber once supported. Wichita oilman and Brownback supporter David Murfin gave $80,000 to the state chamber to help pay for ads attacking incumbent Republican senators.”

MISSOURI: “St. Louis area U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, a staunch conservative who refused to attack his opponents, on Tuesday won Missouri’s Republican U.S. Senate nomination,” the Kansas City Star writes. “He’ll face Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill in November in a race that will offer Missourians a sharp contrast between a six-term congressman who has said he’s committed to sharply cutting the federal budget and a Democrat determined to maintain a basic safety net for most Americans.”

And this happened… “Missouri voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment that supporters said will protect religious freedom,” the Kansas City Star reports. “The measure — Amendment 2 — says Missourians’ right to express religious beliefs can’t be infringed. It protects voluntary prayer in schools and requires public schools to display a copy of the Bill of Rights. With all but two precincts statewide counted, 779,628 voted yes on the measure and 162,404 voted no, roughly a 5-1 margin. Many supporters referred to the measure as the ‘Right to Pray’ amendment.”

NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO -- Mitt Romney on Thursday recast perhaps his favorite stump speech topic -- the central role of free enterprise in America's success -- as a moral issue, while also taking on President Obama's arguments about economic fairness.

"It is called the free enterprise system because we are both free to engage in enterprise and through those enterprises we ensure our freedom. But sadly, it has become clear that this president simply doesn’t understand or appreciate these fundamental truths of our economic system," Romney told an audience of several hundred supporters on a factory floor outside St. Louis.

"Over the last three and a half years, record numbers of Americans have lost their jobs or just disappeared from the work force, or can only find part time jobs. Record numbers of Americans are now living in poverty –-  46 million people. In this country. Living below the poverty line," Romney said. "This is not just a failure of policy; it is a moral failure of tragic proportion. Our government has a moral commitment to help every American help himself... And that commitment has been broken."

The former Massachusetts governor also used his morality argument to reframe President Obama's campaign for greater economic fairness.

"President Obama's vision is very different –- and deeply flawed. There is nothing fair about a government that favors political connections over honest competition and takes away your right to earn your own success," Romney said. "And there is nothing morally right about trying to turn government dependence into a substitute for the dignity of hard work."

Romney regularly casts himself as a defender of the free enterprise system and a champion of small business, and while he regularly speaks of the national debt as a moral issue, today's casting of free enterprise as morally good and the president's policies as morally bad was a rhetorical shift, performed before two of the campaign's own cameras, likely for a future television ad.

After the speech, Romney did not gloat about his Victory Fund's May fundraising totals, which surpassed those of the president's re-election campaign, telling reporters along the rope line that the campaign has "got a long way to go."

The presumptive GOP nominee also told reporters that he called Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday night to congratulate him on his victory in the recall effort there. He did not respond to a follow up question about whether he could win Wisconsin outright. His campaign advisers say they view the Badger state with cautious optimism, as a place to go on offense, but that they don't have to carry to reach the White House in 2012.