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ST. LOUIS, MO. -- Rep. Todd Akin, Missouri's Republican Senate candidate, has questioned whether women can become pregnant when they're raped.

Akin said in an interview with St. Louis television station KTVI released Sunday that pregnancy from rape is "really rare." A video of the interview is posted on the station's website.

Akin has said he opposes most abortions, and said in the interview that if a woman is raped, her body "has ways to shut that whole thing down."

Akin said Sunday the punishment for rape should be focused on the rapist and not "attacking the child."

Rep. Todd Akin prides himself on being Missouri's most conservative congressman. He's running against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

McCaskill's campaign said Sunday that "Akin's record is riddled with policies and votes that hurt women."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.