Akin: McCaskill not as ‘ladylike’ as she was in the 2006 Senate race

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) said on Thursday that Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) isn’t acting as “ladylike” as when she last ran for Senate because she’s worried he’s going to unseat her.

Specifically, Akin was referring to McCaskill’s demeanor during a debate a week earlier.

“I think we have a very clear path to victory, and apparently Claire McCaskill thinks we do, too, because she was very aggressive at the debate, which was quite different than it was when she ran against Jim Talent,” Akin said at a campaign stop according to the Kansas City Star. “She had a confidence and was much more ladylike (in 2006), but in the debate on Friday she came out swinging, and I think that’s because she feels threatened.”

{mosads}In August, he gained national attention and strong criticism for saying that the female body has ways of terminating pregnancies that are the result of “legitimate rape.” The comments sparked a political firestorm and caused top conservatives to denounce Akin and urge him to drop out of the race.

Akin refused to quit, and after the deadline to drop out passed earlier this week, some Republicans have begun to reverse course and support the Missouri congressman. On Wednesday Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), alongside Rick Santorum, endorsed Akin for Senate in a joint statement.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also recently hinted that it could reverse its decision not to support Akin’s bid.

Democrats, however, have been hammering Akin, particularly in regards to women.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) condemned Akin’s latest comment in a statement on Thursday.

“Todd Akin is at it again with another comment that’s demeaning to women and offensive to all,” she said. “What’s truly astonishing is that the national party embraced Todd Akin yesterday and now refuses to repudiate his statement. Unless the national party condemns Todd Akin and his latest comments, every Republican candidate in the country will be held accountable for their support of Akin’s beliefs and sentiments.”