McCaskill hits Todd Akin with new ad, raises 'legitimate rape' remark

"Congressman Akin and I don't agree on everything, but he and I agree the Senate majority must change," Blunt said in a statement. "From Governor Romney to the county courthouse, I'll be working for the Republican ticket in Missouri, and that includes Todd Akin."

Earlier Tuesday, the Freedom's Defense Fund said it was coming to Akin's aid by spending $250,000 for ads on cable TV, radio and the Internet that will begin running Thursday. The group's website says it endorses "conservative stalwarts" who support gun rights, oppose abortion, cut taxes and want to secure the nation's borders.

"We stand for conservative candidates when other people have turned their backs on them," said Kevin Sawyer, a spokesman for the group.

Separately, the Senate Conservatives Fund sent a survey to thousands of people on its email list Tuesday asking whether it should support Akin and, if so, how much money people would be willing to donate. Although it had previously remained neutral, the organization cited the fact that Akin is now fixed on the ballot and still has a shot of defeating McCaskill. Republicans need a net gain of four seats to win control of the Senate from Democrats.

The Senate Conservatives Fund opposes earmarks, which Akin has used and defended during the Senate primary. Akin obtained several for the 2010 fiscal year — the last year earmarks were funded in appropriations bills — including $800,000 for two highway local projects and $2.4 million for "air crew body armor and load" purchased from Eagle Industries, headquartered in Fenton.

The Fund's executive director and Akin said this week that they both support an earmark ban.

But Akin is continuing to get the cold shoulder from other groups that often aid Republican candidates. The Club for Growth and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce both reaffirmed Tuesday that they have no plans to get involved in Missouri's Senate race.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus flatly reiterated Sunday he would be sending no resources to aid Akin's campaign. And on Tuesday, two knowledgeable Republican officials told The Associated Press there was no chance the national GOP would spend any money on Akin in the short term. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss sensitive matters.

But the Missouri Republican Party pledged to stand behind Akin's campaign.

"We are confident that Todd will defeat McCaskill in November, and the Missouri Republican Party will do everything we can to assist in his efforts," said state GOP Chairman David Cole.

And there are other ways to pump Republican money into the Missouri Senate race. Come late October, if Senate control isn't within reach and Akin still has a fighting chance, individual senators, for example, could use their own political action committees to try to nudge Akin over the line.

RELATED: Eleven Mitt Romney gaffes

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Associated Press writers Jim Salter in St. Louis, and Andrew Taylor and Laurie Kellman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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