Former Gingrich spokesman joins Akin campaign

Rick Tyler, the former spokesman for Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign is joining Rep. Todd Akin's (R-Mo.) Senate campaign.

A source close to Tyler confirmed a report to The Hill that Tyler would join Akin's campaign. The source said that Akin's position would probably best be described as an adviser or senior adviser.

Tyler served as the main spokesman for Gingrich's presidential campaign and then, after leaving, helped run the pro-Gingrich super-PAC "Winning Our Future."

Akin has continued to campaign to unseat Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) despite strong pressure from top Republicans for him to drop out of the race since saying the female body has ways of preventing pregnancies that are the result of "legitimate rape."

Initially, polling shortly after Akin's comments showed a wide margin in McCaskill's favor (a reversal from polling before the comment), but a PPP poll released Thursday found Akin leading McCaskill, 45 percent to 44.