Massachusetts senator Scott Brown is urging Missouri Senate nominee Todd Akin to resign after having said that women are less likely to become pregnant from "legitimate rape."

"There is no place in our public discourse for this type of offensive thinking," Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. "Not only should he apologize, but I believe Rep. Akin's statement was so far out of bounds that he should resign the nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri."

Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney also distanced himself from Akin's comment, although he did go so far as to urge Akin's resignation.

"Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," the campaign said in a statement.

Akin recently prevailed in a closely contested three-way primary in Missouri, where incumbent Democratic senator Clare McCaskill is a top target for Republicans looking to regain control of the Senate. McCaskill has sought to portray Akin as an ideological extremist, and his blunder furnished her with fresh ammunition.

"It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape," McCaskill said in a statement released on Sunday afternoon. "The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive."

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