Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna says that U.S. Rep. Todd Akin should drop out of Missouri's U.S. Senate race for the comments he made about rape.

McKenna, the attorney general for Washington state, said Tuesday that Akin had "irretrievably damaged his credibility with the people of his state and certainly of the country."

McKenna joins national Republican leaders and others who have called for him to quit over his statements in a weekend TV interview that women's bodies are sometimes able to prevent pregnancies after what he called "a legitimate rape."

In a conference call with reporters, McKenna said that he was "offended and appalled" by what Akin said and that he thought it disqualifies Akin from "seeking or holding high office."

Akin has said he will stay in the race.