Todd Akin Ignites Firestorm with Rape Comments

Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin is backpeddling after his comments on rape sparked an immediate reaction of outrage. INSIDE EDITION has the latest.

Republican Todd Akin, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Missouri, was asked about his stance on abortion and rape victims during a local TV appearance.

"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something—I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not attacking the child."

Fellow Republicans are slamming Akin. Mitt Romney called his comments "Insulting, inexcusable, and frankly, wrong."

And during a suprise appearance at a White House briefing, President Obama said, "The views expressed were offensive. Rape is rape."

Akin is now backpeddling. "It's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," said Akin.