Navarro: Still time for Akin to withdraw from Missouri Senate Race

(CNN) - Republican Rep. Todd Akin allowed a state deadline to pass Tuesday, defiantly staying in the race to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill despite mounting calls for him to withdraw over incendiary remarks on rape and pregnancy.

Under Missouri law, Akin would now need to get a court order to pull out of the race as he waited beyond the 5 p.m. deadline. He would also be required to pay for any necessary reprinting of ballots.

But Akin said he has no plans to drop out. He cited what he called a grassroots conservative movement in the country that needs a voice in government for his decision to reject increasing pressure from his own Republican Party, congressional colleagues and others to step aside.

But Republican party members still worry that Akin's presence in the Senate race will not only lose the seat for the party, but potentially affect Mitt Romney's chances of winning the state in the presidential election.

Today on "Early Start," CNN contributor & GOP strategist Ana Navarro looks at Rep. Todd Akin's decision to continue in the Missouri Senate race, and says there's still time for him to drop out of the race.