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| Richard Mourdock under pressure as Democrats pounce on rape remarks | Richard Mourdock under pressure as Democrats pounce on rape remarks |
| (4 months later) | |
| Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock remained under pressure on Thursday as oppponents sought to capitalise on the fallout from his claim that pregnancies from rape are "something that God intended to happen". | Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock remained under pressure on Thursday as oppponents sought to capitalise on the fallout from his claim that pregnancies from rape are "something that God intended to happen". |
| Barack Obama criticised the comments as "demeaning to women", while even those in his own party distanced themselves. Haley Barbour, the Republican former governor of Mississippi, said Mourdock's remarks were "kinda crazy". | Barack Obama criticised the comments as "demeaning to women", while even those in his own party distanced themselves. Haley Barbour, the Republican former governor of Mississippi, said Mourdock's remarks were "kinda crazy". |
| Mitt Romney has refused to withdraw his support from Mourdock and would not answer reporters' questions about the issue on Thursday. | Mitt Romney has refused to withdraw his support from Mourdock and would not answer reporters' questions about the issue on Thursday. |
| Barbour told CBS This Morning that he did not support Mourdock's comments. | Barbour told CBS This Morning that he did not support Mourdock's comments. |
| "I don't agree with what he said. I thought that what he said was kinda crazy," Barbour said. The former governor tried to play down the impact on the presidential race, saying that outside Mourdock's state people are "not talking about what someone who's secretary of state in Indiana said". | "I don't agree with what he said. I thought that what he said was kinda crazy," Barbour said. The former governor tried to play down the impact on the presidential race, saying that outside Mourdock's state people are "not talking about what someone who's secretary of state in Indiana said". |
| But Mourdock's comments – the latest in a series of missteps by Republicans over issues of rape and abortion – and his refusal to apologise for them, could have an impact on Romney's popularity among women, which polls show has improved over the last month. | But Mourdock's comments – the latest in a series of missteps by Republicans over issues of rape and abortion – and his refusal to apologise for them, could have an impact on Romney's popularity among women, which polls show has improved over the last month. |
| The latest AP/GfK poll found that Romney has erased Obama's substantial lead among women – an issue which has been seen as key to deciding the election. The poll showed Romney dead even with Obama, 47-47, despite having been 16 points behind the president with women voters just a month before. | The latest AP/GfK poll found that Romney has erased Obama's substantial lead among women – an issue which has been seen as key to deciding the election. The poll showed Romney dead even with Obama, 47-47, despite having been 16 points behind the president with women voters just a month before. |
| The poll was largely conducted before Mourdock made his remarks, however, and Romney's reluctance to withdraw support from the Indianan is unlikely to be popular. During a debate on Tuesday Mourdock said he was opposed to abortion even when a woman has been raped, saying "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen". | The poll was largely conducted before Mourdock made his remarks, however, and Romney's reluctance to withdraw support from the Indianan is unlikely to be popular. During a debate on Tuesday Mourdock said he was opposed to abortion even when a woman has been raped, saying "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen". |
| In a press conference on Wednesday the Senate candidate said he stood by his comments, apologising only for people misinterpreting them. | In a press conference on Wednesday the Senate candidate said he stood by his comments, apologising only for people misinterpreting them. |
| Obama sought to draw attention to the comments on Wednesday, saying the statement is "demeaning to women". Asked about Mourdock's comment Wednesday on The Tonight Show, Obama told host Jay Leno that "rape is rape. It is a crime." | Obama sought to draw attention to the comments on Wednesday, saying the statement is "demeaning to women". Asked about Mourdock's comment Wednesday on The Tonight Show, Obama told host Jay Leno that "rape is rape. It is a crime." |
| The president continued the theme on Thursday, telling a crowd of supporters in Florida: "I don't think politicians in Washington, most of whom are male, should be making healthcare decisions for women." | The president continued the theme on Thursday, telling a crowd of supporters in Florida: "I don't think politicians in Washington, most of whom are male, should be making healthcare decisions for women." |
| Romney refused to answer questions from reporters about Mourdock on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. His campaign spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, has said that Romney "disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr Mourdock's comments do not reflect Governor Romney's views". | Romney refused to answer questions from reporters about Mourdock on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. His campaign spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, has said that Romney "disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr Mourdock's comments do not reflect Governor Romney's views". |
| However she added: "We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest but still support him." | However she added: "We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest but still support him." |
| There was some good news for Mourdock, however, as John McCain, who beat Romney to the Republican nomination for president in 2008, said he still supported Mourdock. McCain had appeared to waver when interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday. Asked if he still supported Mourdock, McCain said "it depends on what he does". | There was some good news for Mourdock, however, as John McCain, who beat Romney to the Republican nomination for president in 2008, said he still supported Mourdock. McCain had appeared to waver when interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday. Asked if he still supported Mourdock, McCain said "it depends on what he does". |
| "If he apologises, says he misspoke and he was wrong, and he asks the people to forgive him then obviously I'd be the first [to forgive Mourdock]," he said. | "If he apologises, says he misspoke and he was wrong, and he asks the people to forgive him then obviously I'd be the first [to forgive Mourdock]," he said. |
| On Thursday a spokesman for McCain issued a statement saying the 2008 presidential candidate hopes Mourdock is elected to the Senate. | On Thursday a spokesman for McCain issued a statement saying the 2008 presidential candidate hopes Mourdock is elected to the Senate. |
| "Senator McCain was traveling yesterday in Florida and did not have an opportunity to see Mr Mourdock's full press conference before he taped his CNN interview," the statement said. | "Senator McCain was traveling yesterday in Florida and did not have an opportunity to see Mr Mourdock's full press conference before he taped his CNN interview," the statement said. |
| "Senator McCain is glad that Mr Mourdock apologised to the people of Indiana and clarified his previous statement." | "Senator McCain is glad that Mr Mourdock apologised to the people of Indiana and clarified his previous statement." |
| Mourdock has also been backed by the national Republican senatorial committee, although New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte dropped plans to campaign with Mourdock, a spokesman saying she disagreed with his comments. | Mourdock has also been backed by the national Republican senatorial committee, although New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte dropped plans to campaign with Mourdock, a spokesman saying she disagreed with his comments. |
| Mourdock is not the first Republican to find himself in hot water over abortion beliefs. In August, Todd Akin, Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, said that pregnancy as a result of "legitimate rape" is rare as "the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down". | Mourdock is not the first Republican to find himself in hot water over abortion beliefs. In August, Todd Akin, Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, said that pregnancy as a result of "legitimate rape" is rare as "the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down". |
| Just last week Republican congressman Joe Walsh of Illinois told reporters "you can't find one instance" where it has been necessary to perform an abortion due to the risk to the mother's life due to medical advances. Medical experts note that there are some cases where the only option in the case of complications sustained during pregnancy is to abort the foetus. | Just last week Republican congressman Joe Walsh of Illinois told reporters "you can't find one instance" where it has been necessary to perform an abortion due to the risk to the mother's life due to medical advances. Medical experts note that there are some cases where the only option in the case of complications sustained during pregnancy is to abort the foetus. |
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