Joe Donnelly walks careful line on abortion - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A Republican Senate candidate's comments that a pregnancy resulting from rape is something "God intended" might not help Democrat Joe Donnelly break away from his tea party-backed opponent as much as he would like.

Donnelly's opposition to abortion and his support for a measure last year that would have denied federal abortion funding even in cases of rape and incest have made it difficult for him to capitalize on Republican Richard Mourdock's remarks in socially conservative Indiana.

The impact of Mourdock's words has been further muted by Donnelly's strategy of campaigning as a consensus-builder.

Republicans have continued to pour money into the race. That's a sharp contrast from Missouri, where the GOP withdrew money and support from GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin after he made a controversial comment about abortion.

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