JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican strategist Karl Rove has apologized to Congressman Todd Akin after joking about the Missouri Senate candidate being murdered.

Akin campaign adviser Rick Tyler told The Associated Press that Akin accepted Rove's apology during a phone call Friday. A Rove spokesman didn't return messages Friday from the AP.

Bloomberg Businessweek's website had quoted Rove as telling GOP donors in Florida: "We should sink Todd Akin. If he's found mysteriously murdered, don't look for my whereabouts!"

Rove and other top Republicans have urged Akin to drop his challenge to Democratic Sen. McCaskill and let GOP leaders pick a replacement candidate after Akin's remarks about women's bodies being able to avoid pregnancy in cases of what he called "legitimate rape."

Akin has since publicly apologized and vowed to remain in the race.