Missouri Senators Announce Support for Todd Akin

The Associated Press is reporting that two of Mitt Romney's senior advisors have reversed course and now say they will back Todd Akin in his bid for a Missouri Senate seat. 

The support comes from a trio of Missouri statesmen, according to the article. Former Missouri senators Jim Talent, now an adivsor to Romney on Russia and defense policy, and Kit Bond both said Friday that they were behind Akin.

Missouri Senator and Romney's liason to Congress Roy Blunt said he would back Akin on Tuesday. 

All three senators had previously called on Akin to drop out following controversial statements he made in a television interview about "legitimate rape."

Akin has been apologizing for weeks, but his opponent, incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, has recently started airing campaign ads attacking him for his remarks. 

The announcement also follows an appearance by former Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich at an Akin fundraiser in Kirkwood earlier this week, where Gingrich told reporters that he expected party organizations, including Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, to start to rallying behind Akin.