Claire McCaskill was considered one of the Democrats most likely to lose her seat in the 2012 election race. That is, until her Republican opponent Todd Akin opened his mouth during a television interview and the infamous words “legitimate rape” came out.

Akin’s controversial comment in which he claimed women had the magical ability to repel rape sperm–but only if the rape was “legitimate”–turned what could have been an easy victory for him into another six-year term for McCaskill. The incumbent has been declared the winner of one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.