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Democrats are trying to use GOP Rep. Todd Akin's comments about rape and abortion to influence the presidential race and other contests across the country. Mitt Romney does not want to spend his time talking about Akin, but events have forced him.

After his remarks about rape and pregnancy, Missouri Republican Todd Akin faces an uphill climb in his Senate contest against Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. One expert says that to attract moderate voters, Akin must steer the conversation to the economy.

The Republican Party's platform committee on Tuesday adopted the same anti-abortion language it included in GOP platforms in 2004 and 2008. It seeks passage of a constitutional amendment that would essentially ban abortion. The language includes no exceptions for rape or incest.

Under fire for his comments about rape and abortion, the Missouri Senate candidate is under pressure from his own party to drop out before the end of the day. His Democratic opponent is one of the few voices urging him to stay in.

An anti-abortion group has begun a swing-state bus tour meant to bring attention to President Obama's views on abortion. At the same time, the Obama campaign has launched a new TV ad — aimed at some of the same voters in some of the same states — criticizing Republican Mitt Romney on the issue.

Rep. Todd Akin's rape comment gave Democrats new fodder for their argument that Republicans are out of step on women's issues. In addition to endangering Akin's Senate bid amid GOP calls for him to step aside, it gave Democrats a new way to attack the GOP's White House ticket.

The president weighed in on controversial comments made over the weekend by Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who is running for the Senate. Akin said that women who are victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant.

Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, who's challenging Democrat Claire McCaskill for a U.S. Senate seat, said it's "rare" for women to become pregnant when they are raped. The Romney campaign distanced itself from the remarks.

The Democratic senator gets her preferred opponent in November with Rep. Todd Akin's victory in the state's Republican primary. But McCaskill still has an uphill fight to re-election.

Missouri's Claire McCaskill is one of the most embattled Senate Democrats in the country. Conservative outside groups have been running TV ads against her for months. Tuesday night, Missouri voters in the Republican primary chose Congressman Todd Akin to face McCaskill in the fall.