Newt Gingrich said today a "fumble" by Rep. Todd Akin shouldn't disqualify him from getting Republicans to help him unseat Democrat Claire McCaskill.

STORY: Akin confident about Mo. Senate race

Gingrich, the former House speaker and presidential candidate, campaigned for the embattled Missouri Senate GOP nominee in suburban St. Louis. After the fundraising event, Gingrich told KMOX radio that top Republicans "need to get back in the game" and support Akin or risk having Democrat Harry Reid re-elected as the Senate majority leader.

"If verbal mistakes mattered, Joe Biden couldn't be vice president," Gingrich said in the radio interview, adding he is supporting Akin because the congressman "admitted he made a mistake and apologized for it."

Akin sparked a controversy last month when he said women could prevent pregnancies in the case of "legitimate rape." The six-term congressman has apologized, and he vowed again today he would not quit the race. Tomorrow is the last day Akin can ask a court to remove his name from the ballot, but he told Reuters, "That's not going to happen."

Top Republicans such as national party chairman Reince Priebus and Senate GOP campaign chief John Cornyn have vowed not to help Akin in his Senate race. Gingrich predicted, however, that the GOP ground game in Missouri to help elect Mitt Romney will also eventually help Akin.