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 touts support from crusader who espoused theories on rape  —  Rep. Todd Akin takes questions after speaking at the Missouri Farm Bureau candidate interview in Jefferson City, Mo. (Christian Gooden / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Associated Press / August 10, 2012)

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.

Todd Akin Defies Mitt Romney and Stays in Missouri Senate Race  —  A defiant Rep. Todd Akin today rejected calls from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan to drop out of the Missouri Senate race over his controversial comments about rape and pregnancy.

Eleven reasons Akin didn't quit  —  It's after 6 p.m., and Todd Akin is still on the Missouri ballot.  Why did he remain in the race?  —  Todd Akin declared Tuesday that he would not drop out of the U.S. Senate race in Missouri.  Most East Coast journalists and politicos I've spoken …

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 …

Obama continues to lead in Virginia  —  PPP's newest poll of Virginia finds Barack Obama leading by 5 points, 50-45.  In 8 Virginia surveys PPP has done this cycle, Obama has never led Mitt Romney by less than 4 points.  It continues to look like it could be his firewall state this fall.

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) …

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.

Dems prepare to go behind enemy lines at GOP convention in Tampa  —  Don't call it sabotage, but as Mitt Romney and the Republicans are taking over Tampa for next week's GOP convention, a sizable crew of Democrats will be there as well, working furiously behind enemy lines in an effort to muffle the GOP message.