Sen. Claire McCaskill’s Senate campaign went nuclear on Rep. Todd Akin (R) this morning, targeting his comments on “legitimate rape” that turned a sure loss for the Democrat into a likely win.

McCaskill’s strategy had been widely expected ever since Akin declined to drop his Senate bid in the wake of his politically damaging comments.

The McCaskill campaign released three new ads on their website along with contribution tabs involving testimonials from survivors of sexual assault. While the National Republican Senatorial Committee has not committed funds to this race, it did wade into Missouri waters on Tuesday.

Texas State Senate 

On Tuesday we highlighted a House ad that featured a rape survivor. There is some reluctance given the seriousness of the topic at hand to call this a trend, but it is even surfacing in some downballot races. Dallas affiliate WFAA flagged an ad being run in a Texas state Senate race by incumbent Sen. Wendy Davis (D).  Given the sensitivity of the subject matter, is there a point where such ads could backfire?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-s_sBYmx0&feature=youtu.be

Wisconsin’s 7th

Another ad we were expecting hit Wisconsin airwaves. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released an ad today with a clip of Rep. Sean Duffy (R) discussing his struggles to make ends meet on his Congressional salary. (A full context of the statement can be read here.) The comment has been a part of the

.) The comment has been a part of the Democratic framing of this race since the very start. Former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow is Duffy’s Democratic challenger.

Iowa’s 4th

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is going negative on Rep. Steve King (R). The Humane Society supports candidates on both sides of the aisle. They offered an early endorsement this cycle to Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R).  Former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack (D) is challenging King in this race. The Humane Society is putting $366,000 behind it, and it will air in Des Moines, Sioux City and the Rochester-Mason City markets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBA_6z4p7s

Niels Lesniewski and Shira Toeplitz contributed to this report.