Rep. Todd Akin Goes 'Full Speed Ahead' in Two Campaign Stops Friday

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Todd Akin is back on the campaign trail.

His appearance in St. Joseph Friday morning comes less than two weeks after making headlines with some controversial remarks about rape and pregnancy.

On August 19, Akin told a St. Louis news station that in cases of "legitimate rape the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down."

The media backlash was huge, and some prominent members of the Republican party were calling for Akin to drop out of his race for the US Senate.

Akin is challenging Democrat Claire McCaskill. Amid his controversy, Todd Akin has vowed to continue.

"You have to take a look, sift through the information and make a decision," he said. "It's like a compass. Where is the right direction? What's the principled and right thing to do? When you understand what the right thing to do is, you go full speed ahead. That's always been my approach."

He made two stops in northwest Missouri Friday.

His first was a radio interview at KFEQ, where he told host Barry Birr that despite a poor showing in the polls right now "the only polling that matters is on election day."

Protestors met the congressman early that morning with signs mocking his statements about "legitimate rape" and speaking out against what they call dangerous rhetoric.

"We believe that Todd Akin's comments about Akin's comments about rape were not a mistake, despite his backpedaling after the fact," said protestor Nick Brothers.

Akin continued his tour in Savannah, where he met a town hall full of supporters and high school students.

At the meeting he reaffirmed his political platform, citing his A rating from the NRA and his support for the 2nd Amendment, a call for smaller government, less taxes, and a strong pro-life stance.

He was given a loud applause by many of his supporters.

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