Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill suggested opponent Todd Akin is to the right of some in his own Republican Party, after he said she was more "ladylike" in her 2006 race.

"This is somebody who kind of makes Michele Bachmann look like a hippie," the Democrat said on MSNBC's Morning Joe program, after recounting some of his past statements and votes.

Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman and Tea Party favorite, is not someone generally associated with the 1960s counterculture movement. McCaskill has used the line about Akin before, citing Rick Santorum as another person she believes is less extreme than her opponent.

In recent days, Akin said McCaskill was being "aggressive" in their debate last week and "much more ladylike" when she faced Republican Jim Talent six years ago. Akin also described McCaskill's debate performance as "like somebody let a wildcat out of the cage," according to the Chicago Tribune.

These comments came after Akin was rebuked by top Republicans for saying women could prevent pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape." He apologized.

McCaskill said today she was "at a loss" about what Akin meant by his characterizations.

"I don't know exactly what his accusation that I am not 'ladylike' means," she said on Morning Joe. "I am a former courtroom prosecutor and I try to be strong and informed. The debate was tough for Todd because I went through the list of his very, very extreme positions and ... maybe he wasn't prepared to answer."