“Legitimate rape” comments have divided the party, but Akin is seeing a resurgence of support.

For the Republicans, winning the US state of Missouri is seen as crucial if they want to control the Senate.

But a comment made by Todd Akin, the Republican running for the seat, claiming that women who are “legitimately raped” had some form of biological defence against pregnancy, has divided the party.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett has more.