Akin Clarifies ‘Legitimate Rape’ Comments: Women Make ‘False Claims’ About Being Raped  —  Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) announced that he will continue with his race for the U.S. Senate, during an appearance on the Mike Huckabee radio show Tuesday afternoon, and clarified his claims that women who face “legitimate rape” cannot become pregnant.

Rep. Steve King on the Campaign Trail  —  (LE MARS/SIOUX CENTER, IA) Representative Steve King, who's running for re-election in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, made a few campaign stops today.  —  We caught up with him in Le Mars and Sioux Center, where he spoke about gun control …

Todd Akin, Superstar  —  So the big question in Politicsland this afternoon is how and why Todd Akin was able to convince himself to defy the entire GOP establishment of his state, the GOP presidential nominee, the major national campaign funders, and nearly the entire Right-Wing commentariat, and stay on the ballot in Missouri.

Rape exceptions aren't legitimate  —  Todd Akin's right about this much: Rape exceptions are wrong.  You either believe in bodily autonomy, or you don't  —  Todd Akin may know nothing about biology, and may have been too honest for his own good about his own contempt for women …

Fetus Vanishes From Akin Website  —  Also a few spelling problems.  But who are we to throw stones?  —  Source: @nycsouthpaw  —  Todd Akin, the Missouri Senate candidate under fire for claiming that “legitimate rape” prevents pregnancy, spent most of today doing interviews about how he's staying …

Tainted poll by Dem outfit offers Akin incentive not to quit  —  A PPP poll, taken after Todd Akin's infamous comment about rape, puts him in a virtual tie with Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in the Missouri Senate race.  According to that poll, Akin leads McCaskill by 44-43.

Medicare Voucher Plan Remains Unpopular  —  Plurality Views Ryan VP Choice Negatively  —  OVERVIEW  —  Paul Ryan's selection to the Republican ticket has put the issue of Medicare squarely on the 2012 campaign agenda.  And the latest Pew Research Center survey continues to find the public …

New Michigan Poll has Romney ahead of Obama  —  WJBK Fox 2 -  —  Foster McCollum White Baydoun (FMW)B, a national public opinion polling and voter analytics consulting firm based in Michigan and representing the combined resources of Foster McCollum White & Associates (Troy, Michigan) …

In Tight Race, Romney Faces Hurdles  —  Poll Finds Republican Closing in on Obama's Lead but Facing Empathy Concerns; President Scores Poorly on the Economy  —  Heading into next week's Republican convention, Mitt Romney remains within striking distance of President Barack Obama …

GOP rejects rape exception in platform  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Even as Mitt Romney sought to quash the furor surrounding Todd Akin's “legitimate” rape comments, the Republican platform committee here approved an abortion plank that includes no exemptions for rape, incest or even to save the life of the mother.