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Todd Akin made worldwide headlines with his controversial remarks. Charlie Riedel/AP

'Legitimate rape' controversy costs election for Senate hopeful

Todd Akin caused international furore when he said the female body could repel a pregnancy after a “legitimate rape”.

THE US POLITICIAN who caused an international storm when he claimed the female body had ways of avoiding a pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape” has been defeated in his campaign for a Senate seat.

Congressman Todd Akin was unable to unseat the Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill in Missouri.

Data published by the New York Times showed that with only 30 per cent of votes counted, McCaskill already held a 53-41 lead which was unlikely to be curbed given the state of play elsewhere in the state.

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had called on Akin to pull out of the election after he shared his belief that the female body had natural mechanisms that meant it would not carry a child conceived in a sexual assault.

“It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” he said.

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down but let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. You know I think there should be some punishment but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child,” Akin had said.

(YouTube: )

Read: Congressman asks for forgiveness in TV ad after rape comments

More: Wisconsin Democrat to become first openly gay member of Senate

As it happens: Liveblog: US Election 2012

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10 Comments
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    Mute Tony Fleming
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    Nov 7th 2012, 4:23 AM

    Serves the loolah right.

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    Mute Sum Yung Guy
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    Nov 7th 2012, 4:51 AM

    The man got 812,946 or 42.1% of the vote. And then America wants the rest of the world to be just like them.

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    Mute Mike Meyers
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    Nov 7th 2012, 7:48 AM

    The only part of America that wants other countries to form democracies, promote peace and embrace equality are democrats and liberals. Republicans and conservatives don’t want that because they would have to recognize others as equals.

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    Mute Dhakina's Sword
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    Nov 7th 2012, 9:34 AM

    ” legitimate rape “. A good example of an oxymoron, by a moron.

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    Mute Paula Dennan
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    Nov 7th 2012, 9:05 AM

    Todd Akin not winning this Senate seat was genuinely the highlight of election night for me.

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    Mute Kevin Manley
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    Nov 7th 2012, 9:17 AM

    Todd Akin is one crazy bastard.

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    Mute Philip O'Rourke.
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    Nov 7th 2012, 9:46 AM

    I suppose his brother is also called Todd and plays a banjo.

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    Mute Humpy C*nt
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    Nov 7th 2012, 11:14 AM

    His brothers name in Man and they share an iq

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Nov 7th 2012, 6:48 PM

    This man is an insult to women everywhere. I am glad his ignorant remark cost him his seat in the election.

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    Mute Thomas Fanning
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:28 PM

    Good enough for him

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