Mitt Romney To Todd Akin: Get Out Of the U.S. Senate Race

Update 3:19 p.m.

The Associated Press reports presumptive Republican Party Presidential nominee Mitt Romney has called on Todd Akin to exit the race to be Missouri's next U.S. Senator.

Original Story

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, under pressure from Republican party leaders to quit Missouri's U.S. Senate race over the  again announced his intent Tuesday to remain as the GOP nominee.

Akin, speaking on Mike Huckabee's national radio program for the second time in two days, told the former Arkansas governor he's staying in the race and said he felt betrayed by fellow Republicans who called for his exit.

“I misspoke one word in one sentence one time,” he said, adding that he did nothing morally or ethically wrong. “Nobody expects us to get every word perfectly,” he said.

Akin said he believes he can win the race, despite a Tuesday push by current and former U.S. Senators John Danforth, John Ashcroft, Kit Bond and Jim Talent, as well as current U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, saying he should step down.

Soon after the interview ended, an email plea from the Akin campaign went out seeking donors.

"Liberals and pundits want to write me off and hand this Senate seat back to Claire. I need your help to respond," it said, asking for donations of $3.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to quit the race without the involvement of the court system.