Rep. Todd Akin renewed his vow to carry on with his embattled Senate campaign Tuesday, even as a key deadline loomed to withdraw from the race over his comments that women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in cases of "legitimate rape." 
 
 Alaina Carnan of Lexington, Ky., works in the Senate campaign office of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 in Chesterfield, Mo. Akin has come under pressure to abandon his Senate compaign... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Feb 18, 2012 file photo, Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri, waves to the crowd while introduced at a senate candidate forum during a Republican conference in Kansas City, Mo.... (Associated Press) 
 
 A campaign sign stands outside the Senate campaign office of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 in Chesterfield, Mo. Rep. Akin has come under pressure to abandon his Senate compaign after... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - This Aug. 10, 2012 file photo shows Todd Akin, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Missouri taking questions after speaking at the Missouri Farm Bureau candidate interview and endorsement... (Associated Press) 
 
 Akin, who has been frantically trying to salvage his once-promising bid against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, insisted the uproar surrounding his remarks was an overreaction to misspeaking "one word in one sentence on one day." 
 
 For the second time in two days, Akin went on the radio show hosted by former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to say he planned to stay in the race, despite constant urging from prominent members of his own party to step aside. 
 
 "I guess my question is: Is there a matter of some justice here?" Akin asked. After his original statement, "all of a sudden, overnight, everybody decides, `Well, Akin can't possibly win.' Well, I don't agree with that." 
 
 The race has long been targeted by the GOP as crucial to regaining control of the Senate. 
 
 "I hadn't done anything morally or ethically wrong, as sometimes people in politics do," Akin said. "We do a lot of talking, and to get a word in the wrong place, still, that's not a good thing to do, or to hurt anybody that way, it does seem like a little bit of an overreaction." 
 
 Hours earlier, he posted a video online in which he apologized again. 
 
 But ominous signs were mounting against the six-term legislator from suburban St. Louis, most notably the apparent loss of millions of dollars in campaign advertising money. 
 
 The decision to stay or go has some urgency. Missouri election law allows candidates to withdraw 11 weeks before Election Day. That means the deadline to exit the Nov. 6 election is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Otherwise, a court order would be needed to remove a name from the ballot. 
 
 The uproar began Sunday, when St. Louis television station KTVI aired an interview in which Akin was asked if he would support abortions for women who have been raped. 
 
 "It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said. 
 
 The comments drew a sharp rebuke from fellow Republicans, including presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his vice presidential choice, Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin. 
 
 The Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, said Tuesday that Akin "made a deeply offensive error at a time when his candidacy carries great consequence for the future of our country." McConnell said the apology was insufficient. 
 
 A day after nudging Akin by suggesting he "take time with his family" to consider his future, McConnell said it was time for Akin to drop out. 
 
 North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte joined McConnell, as did five patriarchs of the Missouri Republican Party. 
 
 Sen. Roy Blunt and four former senators from Missouri _ John Ashcroft, Kit Bond, Jim Talent and John Danforth _ issued a joint statement saying they "do not believe it serves the national interest" for Akin to remain in the race. 
 
 After his defiant statements on Huckabee's show, Senate Republicans' campaign arm reiterated that it would not support Akin's campaign. 
 
 "The stakes in this election are far bigger than any one individual," said Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. By staying in the race, Akin "is putting at great risk many of the issues that he and others in the Republican Party are fighting for." 
 
 The committee had set aside $5 million for advertising and had other plans for logistical and field support for Akin's campaign before his comments on Sunday. 
 
 At least one outside group that has advertised extensively in Missouri, the Karl Rove-backed Crossroads GPS, has also said it was also pulling all of its advertising in Missouri. 
 
 Two GOP officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to irritate Akin, said party officials seeking to talk with him were having trouble reaching him Monday night and Tuesday morning. 
 
 Akin campaign spokesman Ryan Hite declined Tuesday to reveal Akin's whereabouts but said he was not in his suburban St. Louis campaign office. Hite said the campaign may release information about his public schedule later. 
 
 The apology video Akin posted on YouTube early Tuesday was an apparent attempt to claw back some of the lost funding. 
 
 "Fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness," he said in the video. 
 
 Just two weeks ago, Akin was at the top of the political world in Missouri after winning a hotly contested three-way battle with millionaire businessman John Brunner and former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman for the right to challenge McCaskill in the November election. Missouri has grown increasingly conservative in recent years, and McCaskill is seen as vulnerable. 
 
 One anti-abortion group expressed support for Akin, while another called on him to step aside. 
 
 Missouri Right to Life, which opposes a woman's right to get an abortion even in cases of rape and incest, said Akin's "consistent defense of innocent unborn human life clearly contrasts" with McCaskill's position. But the Christian Defense Coalition called on him to withdraw. 
 
 Names are being floated about a possible replacement for Akin. A favorite is Tom Schweich, the state auditor who was courted to run for Senate earlier this year but declined. 
 
 Other names mentioned include former Gov. Matt Blunt, the son of Sen. Roy Blunt; two members of Missouri's House delegation, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jo Ann Emerson; and Akin's two unsuccessful primary opponents, Brunner and Steelman. 
 
 Talent, who lost his seat to McCaskill in 2006, said Monday he had been asked to run but declined. 
 
 If Akin were to leave, state law gives the Republican state committee two weeks to name a replacement. The new candidate must file within 28 days of Akin's exit. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Associated Press writers Henry C. Jackson in Washington; Jim Suhr in St. Louis; and Chris Blank and David Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo., contributed to this report. 

 Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) vowed to stay in Missouri's Senate race on Tuesday as a number of former Missouri senators, led by Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, called on him to exit. 
 
 
 
 But Akin told conservative talk radio host Mike Huckabee he's staying in the race. 
 
 "We are going to continue with this race for the U.S. Senate," he said Tuesday afternoon. 
 
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 But Blunt and former Missouri Sens. John Ashcroft, Kit Bond, John Danforth and Jim Talent — all prominent names in the state — released a statement Tuesday calling on Akin to withdraw. 
 
 “We do not believe it serves the national interest for Congressman Todd Akin to stay in this race. The issues at stake are too big, and this election is simply too important. The right decision is to step aside," they said in the statement. 
 
 The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a strongly-worded statement after Akin's radio interview, encouraging him to step aside. 
 
 
 
 “It should not be lost on anyone that some of the only voices not calling for Congressman Akin to do the right thing and step aside are Claire McCaskill and the leaders of the pro-abortion movement. Senator McCaskill knows that the only way she wins re-election is if Todd Akin is her opponent in November," NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said in a statement. “We continue to hope that Congressman Akin will do the right thing for the values he holds dear, but there should be no mistake — if he continues with this misguided campaign, it will be without the support and resources of the NRSC.” 
 
 Adding to the pressure on Akin, late Tuesday afternoon presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney released a statement calling on the lawmaker to drop out. 
 
 "“As I said yesterday, Todd Akin's comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country. Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race," Romney said. 
 
 
 
 Calls for Akin's removal from the race have escalated since comments he made on Sunday, that pregnancies from "legitimate rape" are rare because the female body has biological mechanisms to prevent such an outcome, caught fire across the nation, causing a number of prominent GOP lawmakers and candidates to distance themselves from his remarks. 
 
 
 
 GOP leadership has expressed concern that Akin could cost them one of their most likely pickups in November and, consequently, the majority in the Senate. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who said Tuesday she wanted Akin to remain as her opponent, was considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic senators but Akin's comments changed that perception. 
 
 
 
 Akin's campaign made a nearly $150,000 ad buy on Tuesday for an advertisement in which he apologizes for his remark, and has repeatedly said he will not drop out of the race. 
 
 
 
 He has until 5 p.m. to drop out of the race without further cost to his campaign. 
 
 — This story was updated at 4:03 p.m. 
 

– Just hours after Senate hopeful Todd Akin reaffirmed that he's not dropping out over his "legitimate rape" gaffe, he learned that the party is not about to forgive and forget. Mitt Romney just released a statement saying Akin should abandon his run in Missouri against incumbent Claire McCaskill. “As I said yesterday, Todd Akin’s comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country. Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee also reiterated its call for Akin to go, asserting, "Senator McCaskill knows that the only way she wins re-election is if Todd Akin is her opponent in November," reports the Hill. Prominent state Republicans did the same. Today's a crucial day because it's the deadline for candidates to withdraw in Missouri, notes AP. Starting tomorrow, it will require a court order to get a name off the ballot.