Akin's gaffe helps McCaskill retain Missouri Senate seat

Rick Jervis. USA TODAY | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Claire McCaskill wins Senate seat again Incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill defended her seat against Todd Akin. In her speech, she said that everyone told her the state was too red, but Missouri voters proved them wrong.

Before Akin's comments, many thought he would defeat incumbent

His poll numbers have dropped significantly

Romney called on him to exit the campaign

ST. LOUIS - One of the most turbulent and talked-about Senate races of the season came to a thudding close for Republicans in Missouri Tuesday night, as Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill fended off her Republican challenger, U.S. Representative Todd Akin.

McCaskill, 59, trailed Akin early in the race but catapulted over him in the polls this summer after controversial remarks Akin made about women and "legitimate rape."

"With a stern determination, tenacity and refusal to give up, we showed the country what Missouri's made of," McCaskill said to thunderous cheers at her victory party Tuesday night at a St. Louis hotel.

McCaskill's victory delivered a coveted Senate seat to Democrats that many GOP strategists and political analysts thought would likely go Republican.

Akin's remarks during a television interview in August that a woman's body can shut down and avoid pregnancy after a "legitimate rape" made him a pariah – both to moderate Missouri voters and the Republican Party hierarchy.

"Akin was a fringe element even for Republicans," said Darrell West, vice president of government studies at Washington-based Brookings Institution. "There's going to be a lot of soul-searching within the GOP into what went wrong."

Suzanne Zatlin, 63, a St. Louis real estate attorney, said she voted for McCaskill because of her integrity and ability to reach consensus on issues. Akin's comments only helped solidify her choice.

"She truly believes in reaching compromises to do what's best for the American people and the people of Missouri," Zaitlin said.

Akin, 65, a six-term congressman who was once arrested for protesting abortion clinics, led by as many as 10 percentage points in polls earlier this summer, said Jim Staab, a political science professor at Central Missouri University.

Following his rape remarks, Akin's popularity plummeted and he lost financial backing from GOP-backed groups, Staab said. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and other high-ranking Republicans called on him to resign.With two weeks left to the election, Akin reported $543,000 cash in hand, compared with $2 million for McCaskill, according to the Federal Election Commission.

"As far as political gaffes go, that's right near the top," Staab said.

Akin's dramatic loss also points to a growing fissure within the GOP between social conservatives and moderate Republicans, said Dave Robertson, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.



"It's going to make it difficult for Republicans to build majorities as long as they have candidates who can't draw suburban moderate voters," he said.





