Sarah Palin endorsed a third-party candidacy against Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., if he persists in his refusal to drop out of the general election campaign after making startling comments about rape and abortion.

“We’ve got to take back the Senate and Missouri is a must-win state,” Palin told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “The way we do that is to have someone like Sarah Steelman be able to run — even if it’s as a third-party candidate  — to be able to run and help us take this back.” Palin endorsed Steelman in the primary, which was regarded as showdown for the privilege of challenging the deeply-unpopular Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.