(CNN) - The Republican representative from Missouri who landed in the headlines and drew heavy Republican criticism for controversial comments on rape he made in an interview last month launches a new campaign television ad Saturday.
The new spot by Rep. Todd Akin hammers the Democrat he hopes to unseat, Sen. Claire McCaskill, over her support of President Barack Obama's health care law.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
Titled "Broken Trust," the ad uses a clip of McCaskill at one of the contentious town hall meetings held in the summer of 2009 when legislators returned to their states and held forums on the health reform law.
"You don't trust me?" McCaskill is seen asking a largely hostile crowd in the ad, as shouts of "No" can be heard.
The narrator reads, "McCaskill broke our trust when she cast the deciding vote to pass Obamacare, cut Medicare by almost a trillion dollars, and killed jobs with higher taxes, spending, and debt.
"McCaskill voted with Obama 98% of the time," the narrator continues, before audio of Obama endorsing McCaskill rolls.
The senator's own latest television ad, however, touts her status as a centrist.
"All senators are ranked, one to 100, liberal to conservative," she said. "You're looking at number 50."
McCaskill was also not the last senator to announce she would support the health law.
The Akin spot closes with McCaskill saying, "You've got every right, if I decided to run again, to do everything in your power to fire me."
A source familiar with the spot says it will air in every market in the state.
Erik Dorey, a spokesman for McCaskill, said in a statement responding to the ad, "Akin is trying once again to mislead voters about Claire's record because he knows his own beliefs are just too extreme for Missouri."
"Missouri families know exactly who they can trust to protect Medicare, Social Security and student loans, and it's not Todd Akin," Dorey said. "Claire's always been a Senator on our side, fighting to protect these safety nets. On the other hand, Todd Akin's been working to abolish the minimum wage and eliminate Social Security and Medicare, all while protecting tax giveaways for mega-millionaires and big oil at the expense of working families."
Attention turned to Akin the week before the Republican National Convention when the congressman said in an interview on a local television station that "doctors" had told him pregnancy is rarely a result of sexual assault. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," he said in an interview with KTVI.
Those comments led to high profile Republicans either encouraging him to back out of the race or vowing not to support his candidacy if he continued his challenge of McCaskill.
Days later, he released a television ad stating that "rape is an evil act" and apologizing for having "used the wrong words in the wrong way."
The race is seen as important to Republicans in winning a majority in the Senate.
Race ratings from two top independent election watchers differ slightly in their prediction of the November outcome. The Cook Political rates the race as a toss up, while the Rothenberg Political Report says it leans in McCaskill's favor.
– CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Atkins bachmann Ryan cantor romney the tax cheat, all gop losers in Nov!!!!
Is this man still running? I pray that this country can do better than this. Akin should be looking for somewhere to hide his head instead of showing his face in public. The GOP do not lack for sheer nerve.
Yeah, Todd, That's gonna work....
Every GOP member or candidate should be shot on sight for treason or sedition. Since that won't happen, don't vote for them, or vote them all out of office forever. The GOP is heading toward extinction anyway, let's help them get there sooner.
Is Akin completely nuts? The Affordable Care Act is great for America and will only get better. Maybe he doesn't care what's good for the country but it really doesn't matter what he thinks because he's going to lose.
Please get rid of Akin he does not represent America as it should be represented.
Regards,
Hodgson.
AKIN IS OF COURSE A POLITICAL KIN OF RYAN/RAWMONEY. THIS GANG STRIKES ME AS TOTALLY MESSED UP AND WANTING TO MESS UP THE USA. CHECK THE FACTS.
Let the peole decide who is more qualify and worthy of their votes.we should reason more on how to advance our country in the face of the present global economic n social crusade facing us as a nation.love to all.
I like Obamacare. Thank you Obama.
November cannot come fast enough to stop this GOP/TP madness! It is EVERY voter’s responsibility to stand up and be counted to say if they support lying on every topic the GOP/TP touches in order to sell America to the highest bidder or if they are for a civilized search to solve the problems we all face in our beloved county!
I would bet anyone $10,000 that Akin is still being supported by Karl Rove and his clan of secret PACs – Why is it that you do not hear them "demanding" Akin get out of the race anymore???????? What a bunch of LIARS and hypocrites!!!
WAKE UP AMERICA – Keep in mind what Akin stands for; he is the forefront of the entire Republican party and they all think the same!!!
Obama/Biden 2012 – The ONLY Trusted Way Forward!!!
I'm new to Missouri, and I'll vote FOR McCaskill just because she supported the Affordable Health Care Act.
Given Akin's track record, I don't think he's the guy I'd want to count on for health care decisions of any kind.
The republican way is this. can't run on your own record or values, so lie about your opponents record and value. The repubes have nothing to offer normal hard working americans. On the other hand, which they don't like to talk about, they have great plans to help corporate america and the rich!! This party is a joke and should be put out to pasture!!!
And what's your point...AKIN? maybe she was feeling it was her duty, to look out for "all" the girls/women who may have experienced a "legitimate rape" WOMEN STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT THIS PRE-HISTORIC THINKING.
Republican governors over-reaching in every state. Cutting women's rights and women's healthcare.
If the get by with that, they will take YOUR rights away next.
If I lived in MO, passing "Obamacare" would be reason enough to vote for McCaskill.
The simple existence of Akin and his Tea Party ilk clearly demonstrate how extreme and nutcase the GOP has become.
This movement has advanced from McCarty-like to a nexus threatening Hitlerism.