Gov. Scott Walker Says Missouri Senate Candidate Todd Akin 'Should Get Out'

Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday that Republican Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin should drop out of the race after Akin made controversial comments about rape and pregnancy.

"Yes, he should step down. Those comments were ignorant at best and outrageous," Walker said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in

Akin on Monday said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape because he, added, victims of "legitimate" rape can shut down their body's ability to get pregnant.

Walker joins a growing number of Republicans calling for Akin to get out of the race. 

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on Monday took to social media to denounce Akin's comments. On Twitter, Johnson called Akin's statements, “reprehensible and inexcusable."

While campaigning for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Milwaukee Tuesday, Johnson reaffirmed his position in an interview with Patch.

"We need the majority of Republicans in the Senate to start passing budget reforms and not spend time on issues created from inappropriate comments," Johnson said. "I'm afraid Akin won’t be able to do that and should step down. The financial problems facing this nation are the top issue. You do have to priotize what issues are front and center. We need to grow jobs and get the economy back on track."

His campaign released a more official statement, saying, in part, that Akin should step aside so Republicans can find a more suitable candidate to unseat incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill.

Wisconsin Republican Senate Nominee Tommy Thompson was blunt about Akin's apology not being enough and that he should resign his nomination.

"Congressman Akin should have come to the conclusion by now that his comments were inexcusable and an insult to rape victims," Thompson said in a written statement. "Simply apologizing is not enough. He should step aside and resign the nomination for U.S. Senate immediately."

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in an interview with National Review Online said Akin's comments were "insulting" and that he should take immediate corrective action.

The Romney-Ryan campaign also put out a statement saying they do not oppose abortion in cases of rape.

"Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," said campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg in a story in USA Today.

And Akin's Senate financing seems to have dried up along with the support he was counting on to see him through the election.

The Republican senate committee that helps raise money for candidates has withdrawn some $5 million it was planning to spend in Missouri to help Akin defeat McCaskill, according to a Reuters story on Yahoo.com.

While the comments were bad enough on their own, Walker pointed to how important the November elections are for determining which party holds the balance of power in the Senate.

"He should get out of the race, not just for Missouri, but for the country because that Senate race could very well determine the future of this country," he added. "I want the debate to be about the future, not about issues like that where I think (Akin) made a horribly ignorant statement. He should get out."