Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock caused quite the stir on Tuesday night during with Rep. Joe Donnelly when he said, "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen." Mourdock is the latest Republican to cause controversy over comments regarding rape.
The tea party-backed candidate is one of two candidates to receive on-camera endorsements from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney endorsed Mourdock in a video released on Sunday. "With so much at stake, I hope you'll join me in supporting Richard Mourdock for U.S. Senate," Romney said.
According to ABC News, Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said he "disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr. Mourdock's comments do not reflect Gov. Romney's views." However, the GOP campaign does not plan to take back Romney's endorsement.
While Romney supports abortion in cases of rape, incest or in cases when the life of the woman is in danger, his running mate, Paul Ryan, does not, ABC News reported.
Mourdock attempted to rectify his comments on Wednesday morning but stood by the ideas behind them. In a press release, the Senate candidate said, "God creates life, and that was my point. God does not want rape, and by no means was I suggesting that he does. Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick."
Two Republicans speaking out against Mourdock and his comments are New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. Ayotte cancelled plans to campaign with Mourdock, while Brown, who is up for re-election, spoke out against him, ABC News reported. Brown also spoke out against Missouri Republican Senate nominee Todd Akin, who made comments about rape over the summer.
The Associated Press reported that DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz denounced Mourdock's comments as "outrageous and demeaning to women" and called Romney to remove his video endorsement off the air.
Mourdock's opponent Rep. Joe Donnelly told the AP that he doesn't believe "my God, or any God, would intend that to happen. According to the AP, Donnelly is a moderate Democrat who is against abortion except when it comes to rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger.
WATCH RICHARD MOURDOCK'S COMMENTS ON CONCEPTION DURING RAPE
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