Todd Akin, rape row Republican, loses Senate race: networks

Barack Obama's Democrats were on a path today to retain control of the Senate, holding on to a key seat in Missouri where the losing Republican candidate triggered a firestorm with comments about "legitimate rape."

Barack Obama's Democrats were on a path on Tuesday to retain control of the Senate, holding on to a key seat in Missouri where the losing Republican candidate triggered a firestorm with comments about "legitimate rape."

Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill managed to fend off a challenge by Representative Todd Akin, whose remarks about rape and abortion sparked national outrage and prompted calls from his fellow Republicans to withdraw from the race.