Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill is leveraging Republicans’ calls for Rep. Todd Akin’s resignation in a new ad as the two duke it out for the final days of Missouri’s race for the U.S. Senate.
The latest ad from McCaskill stars Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain calling for Akin to resign the nomination and withdraw from the race, and mentions similar calls from Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and former Missouri Sens. Kit Bond and John Danforth.
The calls for him to step down were made in August, when Akin sparked off a firestorm with his comments that women who are victims of “legitimate rape” rarely become pregnant.
“What he said was indefensible, was wrong, it was offensive, and he should step out of the race,” says Romney in a clip.
A newscaster notes that Akin was asked not to attend the Republican National Convention.
“Frankly he would not be welcomed by Republicans in the United States Senate,” says McCain in a clip.
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In the campaign’s final days, McCaskill’s campaign has ratcheted up its emphasis on Akin’s now-infamous “legitimate rape” comment. Monday, her camp began running an ad featuring women calling Akin “scary.”
The race remains very close, with one poll released Friday finding McCaskill ahead by a mere two points, 45 percent to 43 percent.