New women's group defends Akin in Mo. Senate race

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin is gaining support from some women who believe he has been unfairly judged.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (http://tiny.cc/afxvkw ) that about 300 people gathered Tuesday night for an event sponsored by a new group called Women Standing with Todd Akin. The group describes itself as a "statewide, grass-roots effort." Akin has repeatedly apologized for saying last month that women's bodies can avoid pregnancy in cases of what he called "legitimate rape."

Democrats have cited Akin's remarks as part of what they describe as a "war on women" by Republicans.

Heather Kesselring, of St. Louis, was one of the speakers at Tuesday's event. She said Akin is standing up against the real "war on women," which she described as pornography, sex trafficking and abortion.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com