HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Attorney General Steve Bullock is criticizing his opponent's staunch anti-abortion stance in the wake of a Missouri politician's comments on the issue.

Political candidates in Montana and across the nation reacted Monday to Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin's comments that women's bodies are able to prevent pregnancies if they are victims of "a legitimate rape."

Bullock is running for governor against former congressman Rick Hill, who opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Hill stood by his position Monday and tried to turn the tables on Bullock.

Hill countered that if Bullock were really worried about protecting women from rape, he should have done a better job maintaining his office's database of sex offenders.

Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg called Akin's remarks "offensive and reprehensible."

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