ST. LOUIS -- Rep. Todd Akin has reiterated his intention to stay in the Missouri Senate race after making comments that women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in cases of "legitimate rape."

Akin told former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on a Tuesday radio show that he was staying in because there were people who feel they aren't represented by the major political parties.

He also reaffirmed his stand as an anti-abortion lawmaker.

Akin has been frantically trying to salvage his once-promising bid against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill in a race long targeted by the GOP as crucial to regaining control of the Senate.

He's facing growing calls from within his party to leave the race -- and he's also facing the apparent loss of millions of dollars in campaign advertising money. But he told Huckabee that his fellow Republicans are overreacting to his comments. He said he hasn't done anything morally or ethically wrong, but got a "word in the wrong place."