Rep. Todd Akin's (R-Mo.) controversial comments about "legitimate rape" could cost Mitt Romney Missouri, a high-profile supporter of the presumptive GOP nominee said Tuesday.
Former Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.), who switched to the Republican Party after losing a Democratic primary in his home state's governor's race, said Akin won't win Missouri and that, by staying in the race, he could cost Romney the state, too.
"Look, I'm a former politician who doesn't have the standing to tell anybody to drop out of anything, but he's not going to win this race and it's very possible he could cost Mitt Romney this state," Davis said on CNN's "Starting Point."
Most think Romney will win Missouri, though it is seen as a swing state. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) narrowly won it over President Obama in 2008.
Akin's political future is in jeopardy because of comments made in an interview with a local Fox affiliate that pregnancies from rape are rare because "the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down" in the case of a "legitimate rape." The comments quickly went viral, sparking backlash from Democrats and members of the GOP.
Davis said Akin had become a distraction and mistakenly said Obama had won Missouri four years ago.
"He's such an incredible distraction at this point. Republicans have such a wonderful chance to win Missouri — President Obama, I believe, won Missouri narrowly four years ago, the Missouri economy is not in good shape, Sen. McCaskill has voted pretty much in lockstep with President Obama and that's going to hurt her," he said.
"Well, if the next four months are spent talking about the remarkably dumb comments that Akin made a few days ago, that's certainly going to hurt the prospects for Republicans."
In the midst of Republican calls for an exit from the Missouri Senate race, Akin released a new campaign ad late Monday night saying "rape is an evil act" and asking voters to forgive him for his controversial remarks.
"I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that, I apologize," he says. “As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault. I pray for them.”
A recent poll shows that 55 percent of Missourians don't believe Akin misspoke in his original remarks.
