Here are the most noteworthy television ads we have seen today.

Missouri Senate

EMILY’s List and the Service Employees International Union have combined for an ad campaign against Rep. Todd Akin (R). It hits the usual criticisms that have been leveled at Akin since he made his “legitimate rape” comment in August. But it goes a step further, with one of the most vicious, perennial accusations that can be made against a politician — not taking a hard line against pedophilia. It is part of a $1 million ad buy.

Arizona’s 9th

A trend we’ve noticed in recent days: running a montage of female voters offering testimonials on a candidate. It only underscores the presence and impact of female voters this year. On Monday, Rep. Christopher Murphy (D) used the tactic to go negative on former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, his Republican opponent in the Connecticut Senate race. In Arizona’s 9th district, former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) is up with a similar ad today that has $70,000 behind it.

Arizona Senate 

Rep. Jeff Flake’s (R) campaign is up with a new ad that ties Democratic rival former Surgeon General Richard Carmona to President Barack Obama. It plays up the fact that Obama reached out to Carmona to encourage him to run. In an interview last week with Roll Call, Carmona downplayed the Obama influence on his decision. Spending is heavy in this race and it is part of a major statewide buy. The Carmona camp  and outside groups have gone negative against Flake this week as well.

Shira Toeplitz contributed to this report.