Todd Akin Staying In The Senate Race Despite Rape Remark: 'I'm Not a Quitter'

U.S. Representative Todd Akin Monday called  interview about rape "a very serious error," but told former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's radio audience that he feels "just as strongly as ever" about the need to be the Missouri Republican Party's nominee to defeat U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in November.

"I'm not a quitter," Akin told Huckabee in the afternoon interview. Huckabee has been a supporter of Akin's in the primary campaign and endorsed the Wildwood Republican in television interviews.

Akin's comments claiming "legitimate rape" would not cause a woman to get pregnant have drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans. In an interview with National Journal, Mitt Romney, called the statements "insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong."

In the Huckabee interview, Akin said he had not been contacted by the Romney campaign or the Republican Senate Campaign Committee about dropping out of the race.

Monday afternoon, he quoted John Paul Jones in saying "I've not yet begun to fight," while attempting to pivot the conversation to Claire McCaskill's record on the economy. But he acknowledged, "I'm not perfect," when Huckabee asked how he'll address the issue when it comes up in the remainder of the campaign.

Candidates have until Tuesday afternoon to withdraw as the nominee of their party for the November election in Missouri.