Claire McCaskill was considered one of the Democrats most likely to lose her seat in the 2012 election race. That is, until her Republican opponent Todd Akin opened his mouth during a television interview and the infamous words “legitimate rape” came out.

Akin’s controversial comment in which he claimed women had the magical ability to repel rape sperm–but only if the rape was “legitimate”–turned what could have been an easy victory for him into another six-year term for McCaskill. The incumbent has been declared the winner of one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.

Talking Points Memo:

When election season began, nobody imagined Claire McCaskill would still be a Senator in 2013. She was a deeply unpopular incumbent in an increasingly Republican state, and polled behind a number of viable challengers backed by a GOP desperate to depose her.

But as Republicans have drifted right over the past several years, Democrats have mastered the tactics of influencing GOP primaries, and none have pulled it off more deftly — or more humorously — than McCaskill did.

McCaskill drove conservative voters into Akin’s camp, and threw the GOP primary his way, despite the well known concerns of the national Republican party.

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#2012 election#claire mccaskill#election day#legitimate rape#missouri#politics#senate#todd akin