Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is standing by embattled Missouri Congressman Todd Akin and soliciting donations for his Senate campaign.
Huckabee distributed a fundraising email Thursday for Akin in which he accuses the "Republican establishment" of a "carefully orchestrated and systematic attack" on the suburban St. Louis congressman.
Huckabee is Akin's most prominent defender so far, following a week in which the chairman of the Republican National Committee, presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney and other top Republicans have called on Akin to quit. Akin has vowed to forge ahead with his challenge to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Akin has apologized for remarks in which he suggested that women's bodies have ways of avoiding pregnancy in what he termed as "legitimate rape."
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