Another day, another Republican candidate throwing his campaign into damage-control mode with off-the-cuff remarks on abortion.
The GOP hopeful in this case is Richard Mourdock, the Tea Party favorite who bested longtime senator, Richard Lugar, to become the Republican Senate candidate in Indiana. Mourdock, who is locked in an unexpectedly close race, stepped into controversy during a debate when he was asked if abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.
“Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen,” Mourdock replied.
The Romney campaign—which supports Mourdock—swiftly distanced itself, saying the comments “do not reflect” the presidential candidate’s views.
It’s unlikely the fallout from Mourdock’s comments will be as toxic as Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” flap. But Mourdock’s Democratic opponent, Joe Donnelly, seized on the comments and told reporters that he didn’t believe “my God, or any God, would intend that to happen.”
