Mourdock rape comments provoke firestorm - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Indiana's Senate race was already receiving national attention, but on Wednesday, the spotlight was on the race for a new reason.

Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock spent the day defending himself over Tuesday night's comments about rape and pregnancy during a debate featuring Mourdock, Democrat Joe Donnelly and Libertarian Andrew Horning.

When asked about the abortion issue, Mourdock said, "Life is a gift from God. And I think even when life begins in the horrible situation of rape that it is something God intended to happen."

That response may go down as ten seconds that changed an election in Indiana and in Washington.

This controversy comes about two months after Missouri's Republican candidate for Senate Todd Akin said a woman is unlikely to become pregnant from what he called "legitimate rape."

At a news conference Wednesday, Richard Mourdock said he apologized if anyone misunderstood him but then he added that he would not apologize for his faith. He said Hoosiers know what he meant.

Mourdock's comments occurred two days after a 30-second TV commercial started airing in Indiana featuring Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, endorsing Mourdock.

"With so much at stake I hope you will join me in supporting Richard Mourdock for US Senate," Romney says in the ad.

Mitt Romney was forced to announce that he did not support candidate Mourdock on the abortion issue, but the commercial is still running.

"I understand his position and I am sure he understands mine," said Mourdock.

Indiana Right to Life understands. In a statement, the group said, "Rape is a vile act, committed in evil. When a pregnancy results out of this horrific crime, every bit of care and love must be shown the victim. We believe that life begins at fertilization and with fertilization comes the right to life as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence."

"There is never any excuse or any plausible reason to rape anybody. In the state of Indiana one in seven women and 1 in 12 men will be raped at sometime during their lifetime," said Eric Scheub, Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

"I spoke from my heart. I spoke with my principles. I spoke with my faith and if others wish to use my words against me, that is what is wrong with Washington. It is win at any cost. Let's make up issues when we can't find real ones. Let's twist, let's distort, let's deceive and I think that is a sad process," Mourdock said.

But there is more at stake here than just a Senate seat in Indiana. The balance of power in the Senate is at stake. It gives Democrats nationwide ammunition for their argument that Republicans are waging a war on women. That seemed to lose a little steam since last August when Missouri GOP senate candidate Todd Akin erroneously said women's bodies have ways of preventing pregnancy in cases of rape, but now Richard Mourdock has fanned the flame that is burning nationwide.

Mourdock says he is confident Hoosiers will support him in big numbers on Election Day, but at the moment, Republican candidates are more concerned with distancing themselves from him.

Reaction from Democrats was swift.

"This is not a pro-life issue or an abortion issue. This is an issue of stunning disrespect to people who have been survivors of rape, to women and to their families," said Joe Donnelly (D-Senate candidate).

"I think that hurts women who have been the victims of sexual crimes. It opens up wounds and causes a whole lot of problems. Things like that are beyond unfortunate statements," said John Gregg (D-gubernatorial candidate).

After the morning press conference by Richard Mourdock, he was scheduled to come to the Columbia Club for a fundraiser with New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte. But Ayotte decided not to attend, citing Mourdock's remarks.

Even those sharing the banner on his website were separating themselves Wednesday. Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN06), now running for governor, issued a statement saying, "I strongly disagree with the statement made by Richard Mourdock during last night's Senate debate. I urge him to apologize."

"Apparently Gov. Romney doesn't think his words were twisted. Mike Pence doesn't think his words were twisted. I don't think his words were twisted. He said what he said and he said them on live TV," Donnelly said.

The other man on Mourdock's website banner, Republican presidential aspirant Mitt Romney, announced that he disavowed Mourdock's comments as well but his endorsement commercial for Mourdock that just started running on Monday is still on the air. That leaves Mourdock on his own with less than two weeks until the election.

"Very humbly I stand here to say life is precious. I think any kind of sexual violence is wrong and it is not something God would condone," Mourdock said.