New anti-Akin ads feature rape survivors
Facing a tough challenge from the staunchly conservative Todd Akin, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill today released three new ads that go for the jugular: The ads feature three female survivors of sexual assault speaking directly into the camera against Akin's remarks on rape and abortion.
"I'm a Republican and a pro-life mother, and a rape survivor," says a woman identified as Diana in one ad. "In the hospital I was offered emergency contraception. Because of my personal beliefs, I declined. Here's what else I believe: no woman should be denied that choice. What Todd Akin said is offensive, but what he believes is worse. He would criminalize emergency contraception. I've never voted for Claire McCaskill, but because of Todd Akin, I will now."
The two other ads feature similar personal testimonials.
McCaskill is one of the most vulnerable Democratic senators up for re-election this year, but Akin imperiled his campaign in August when he suggested in a local interview that women are unlikely to become pregnant if they are victims of "legitimate rape."
McCaskill has in other ads but is now zeroing in on Akin's related assertions. In an interview with KCMO in August when asked about the use of the morning-after pill in cases of rape or incest, Akin said, "the morning-after pill is a form of abortion [and] I think we just shouldn't have abortion in this country."
McCaskill's harsh ads shouldn't be too surprising. Even after Akin's controversial remarks, polling shows McCaskill has only a slight lead in the race. This week, the Democrat came under fire after the Associated Press reported that businesses linked to her husband received millions in federal subsidies while McCaskill was in office.
