Huckabee: Republicans who denounced Todd Akin 'are not rational'

Fox News host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee urged his fans to support Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), who recently said it was impossible for a victim of "legitimate rape" to become pregnant.

"The Party’s leaders have for reasons that aren't rational, left [Akin] behind on the political battlefield, wounded and bleeding, a casualty of his self-inflicted, but not intentional wound," Huckabee wrote in an email to supporters. "In a Party that supposedly stands for life, it was tragic to see the carefully orchestrated and systematic attack on a fellow Republican."

Akin created an international uproar over the weekend when he claimed that it was unlikely that the victim of a “legitimate rape” would become pregnant because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Many prominent Republicans called on Akin to abandon his bid for Senate in Missouri, but he refused to drop out of the race against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill.

"This was a serious mistake, but it was blown out of proportion not by the left, but by Akin's own Republican Party," Huckabee continued. "Is this what the party really thinks of principled pro-life advocates?"

Huckabee downplayed Akin's comment as a "misstatement" and a "verbal gaffe." Noting Akin's strong pro-life views, Huckabee said he would continue to support the embattled congressman if the Republican Party would not.

Akin told Huckabee earlier this week that by "legitimate rape" he meant "forcible rape." The following day, he told radio show host Dana Loesch that he was referring to women who lie about being raped.