Missouri Republican heavy-hitters call for Akin to exit Senate race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Rep. Todd Akin’s former political friends are not in his corner anymore.

On Tuesday, Sen. Roy Blunt,R-Mo., and former U.S. Sens. John Ashcroft, Kit Bond, John Danforth and Jim Talent issued a joint statement asking Akin to step aside.

Akin has served six terms in the United States House of Representatives, but now the colleagues he worked alongside for 12 years have taking a public stand against him.

Danforth admitted that it was difficult to oppose a fellow Republican colleague; but said it was not personal, stating task at hand is about getting a majority in the United States Senate.

“I do not think he (Akin) can win,” Danforth said.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., stopped short of saying Akin needed to step-aside. Moran did note Akin’s comments about rape were, in his opinion, not only wrong and offensive, but distracted from the issues of jobs and economy.

Akin did get some public support on Tuesday. The founder of the National and International Right to Life organization, Dr. Jack Willke, issued a letter supporting Akin.

“Rep. Akin remains a strong and courageous pro-life leader, and awkward wording in one sound-bite doesn’t negate that,” noted Willke's letter.

However, Republican leaders do not believe support from pro-life groups will be enough to help defeat Akin's Democratic opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill.