In what could be seen as a major setback for the last-ditch efforts of the Republican nominee Romney to set a favorable stage for the upcoming elections, a Republican Senate Candidate made a controversial statement that pregnancy caused by rape can be "something God intended to happen.
Calling for a prohibition on abortion, the Republican Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said, "I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something God intended to happen."
Indiana's state treasurer and a Tea Party favorite, Mourdock strongly argued during the debate with the Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly that abortion should be banned in all the circumstances except where the mother's life is at risk. His remark was received with wide criticism and political analysts think it would hurt his chances, despite Indiana's heavily Republican makeup, especially when he has failed to pull ahead of Donnelly.
"I think rape is a heinous and violent crime in every instance," Donnelly said in a statement. "The God I believe in and the God I know most Hoosiers believe in, does not intend for rape to happen - ever. What Mr. Mourdock said is shocking, and it is stunning that he would be so disrespectful to survivors of rape."
As his comment went viral, Mourdock came out to clarify his statement.
"God creates life, and that was my point," he said. "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."
Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney distanced himself from the controversy.
"Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock's comments, and they do not reflect his views," Romney's spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement.
Democrats saw an opportunity in the controversy and shortly a video was posted by the liberal super-PAC American Bridge with the title "The Romney-Mourdock ticket."
