"As I said yesterday, Todd Akin's comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country," Romney said in a statement. "Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race."
Romney's statement came after Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri released a joint statement with four former Republican Missouri senators calling on Akin to step aside.
"We do not believe it serves the national interest for Congressman Todd Akin to stay in this race," the Missouri politicians said. "The issues at stake are too big, and this election is simply too important. The right decision is to step aside."
An aide for Romney's running mate Paul Ryan said that Ryan agrees that Akin should exit the race.
