New women's group defends Akin in Mo. Senate race

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin is gaining support from some women who believe he has been unfairly judged.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (http://tiny.cc/afxvkw ) that about 300 people gathered Tuesday night for an event sponsored by a new group called Women Standing with Todd Akin. The group describes itself as a "statewide, grass-roots effort." Akin has repeatedly apologized for saying last month that women's bodies can avoid pregnancy in cases of what he called "legitimate rape."

Democrats have cited Akin's remarks as part of what they describe as a "war on women" by Republicans.

Heather Kesselring, of St. Louis, was one of the speakers at Tuesday's event. She said Akin is standing up against the real "war on women," which she described as pornography, sex trafficking and abortion.

---

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com

Upcoming Events