McCaskill wins Missouri Senate over Akin

Republican Rep. Todd Akin and Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill shake hands after the end of the second debate in the Missouri Senate race Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Clayton, Mo.

/ AP Photo/Emily Rasinski

CBS News projects that Claire McCaskill, the Democratic Senator from Missouri, will be re-elected to the Senate.

• CBS News Election Center
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Todd Akin, McCaskill's embattled Republican challenger, saw his prospects of victory drop significantly in August after suggesting that pregnancies don't result from "legitimate" rape.

Akin's comments earned him almost universal rebukes, including from the Republican establishment, and he struggled to regain his footing in a race that had previously been seen as a likely bet for Republicans.

McCaskill was elected by a razor-thin margin in 2006, and Missouri has become increasingly conservative since.

[canislupus16]

As one poster commented on youtube's video of Akin's concession speech:
"Goodbye, Mr. Akin. Missouri has aborted you."

[SaritaLuz]

Religious extremists are scary, and nuts. One more has been defeated.

[offerPop6417586]

Turns out the voters had a way to shut that whole thing down, Mr. Akin.

[jnostromo]

Akin is the perfect example of what is wrong with todays Republican party...Idiotic extremism is the wrong course. You need only look at the world to see what happens when you allow religion to rule a country....

[zenia5]

Thank God that radical lunatic Akin was defeated. Hopefully, this sends a strong message to the GOP....choose your candidates more carefully in the future.

[ellensmithee]

YEAH! God loves abortion! Or, he doesn't exist at all! Take your pick, Christians!

[sjc_1]

Venus,

You are right on tonight, that was a poor excuse for a speech he gave, I could not wait for it to end.

[todaymessage]

I'm glad the extremist failed. They pulled the country apart.

[1988JAck]

GOD BLES AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE.

[sallychicago]

The Republicans just picked the wrong candidate to back.