Senate candidate endorsed by Romney makes controversial remarks about rape
- 12 years ago
It's the second time a Republican's controversial remarks about rape have become an issue in the campaign. This time by a politician endorsed by Mitt Romney.
SOUNDBITE: Richard Mourdock, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Indiana saying:
"The only exception I have for - to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. Life is that gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.
A day after Richard Mourdock, a Republican running for the U.S. seat In Indiana made those remarks the Romney campaign is distancing themselves from him.
They say Romney disagrees with Mordouck's comments and that they reflect his views.
Democrats have called Mourdock's comments outrageous and released this commercial.
Addressing the controversy, the Indiana Republican had this to say.
SOUNDBITE: Richard Mourdock, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Indiana saying:
"I am a much more humble person this morning because so many people mistook, twisted, came to misunderstand the points that I was trying to make. And if because of the lack of clarity in my words that they came away with an impression other than those I stated a moment ago -- which is life is precious and I abhor violence and I am confident God abhors violence and rape. If they came away with any impression other than that I truly regret it. I apologize that they came away, and I have certainly been humbled by the fact that so many people think that somehow was an interpretation."
It's too early to tell what impact Mourdock's remarks will have on the general election, if any. The latest Reuters Ipsos poll shows Romney leading President Obama by one point, 47 percent to Obama's 46 percent --- making the race a statistical dead heat.
SOUNDBITE: Richard Mourdock, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Indiana saying:
"The only exception I have for - to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. Life is that gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.
A day after Richard Mourdock, a Republican running for the U.S. seat In Indiana made those remarks the Romney campaign is distancing themselves from him.
They say Romney disagrees with Mordouck's comments and that they reflect his views.
Democrats have called Mourdock's comments outrageous and released this commercial.
Addressing the controversy, the Indiana Republican had this to say.
SOUNDBITE: Richard Mourdock, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Indiana saying:
"I am a much more humble person this morning because so many people mistook, twisted, came to misunderstand the points that I was trying to make. And if because of the lack of clarity in my words that they came away with an impression other than those I stated a moment ago -- which is life is precious and I abhor violence and I am confident God abhors violence and rape. If they came away with any impression other than that I truly regret it. I apologize that they came away, and I have certainly been humbled by the fact that so many people think that somehow was an interpretation."
It's too early to tell what impact Mourdock's remarks will have on the general election, if any. The latest Reuters Ipsos poll shows Romney leading President Obama by one point, 47 percent to Obama's 46 percent --- making the race a statistical dead heat.