Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., confirmed on Friday during a six-minute news conference in Chesterfield that he is staying in the Senate race after his comments on “legitimate rape” caused a national firestorm and led some in the GOP, including presidential candidate Mitt Romney, to call on Akin to drop out.
“We are going to be here through November, and we are going to be here to win,” Akin said.
As a swing state, Missouri could affect Republican Senate representation beginning in November. President Barack Obama leads Romney by 2 percent, according to a [CNN poll](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/24/cnn-poll-obama-49-romney-47-among-likely-voters/) released Friday.
Standing between the U.S. and Missouri flags, Akin said the U.S. he represents is one of “more freedom and more jobs – an America with less bureaucracy, less big government, less taxes and a bright hope for the future.”
He said his opinions are in contrast to incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
Akin said the U.S. has paid too much attention to politics and not enough to principles.
The Senate contender did confirm he has had threats on his life after his controversial comments, but he said he is not allowed to discuss them. He said he would continue campaigning the same way he always has.
Akin said the pressure of other Republicans, including Romney, asking him to step aside does not affect him.
“I may not be the favorite candidate of some people within the Republican establishment, but the voters make the decision, and this is an election, not a selection,” Akin said.