Rep. Akin gets apology for 'murder' joke

Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri said he has accepted an apology from Republican strategist Karl Rove for a joke about the congressman being "found mysteriously murdered."

Akin said in a Facebook posting on his campaign website, "I appreciate the call from Karl Rove, and accept the apology." Rove called Akin on Friday, Rick Tyler, an Akin campaign adviser, told The Associated Press. A message seeking comment from Akin's campaign wasn't immediately returned.

Rove and other Republicans, including the party's presidential nominee Mitt Romney, have called on Akin to leave the race to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill after his Aug. 19 comments that abortion shouldn't be allowed in rape cases because "legitimate rape" rarely leads to pregnancy.