McConnell stands by Mourdock

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stood by Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock Wednesday, a day after his comment that a pregnancy from rape is “something that God intended.”

The Courier-Journal reported that McConnell said Mourdock was just expressing his view that life begins at conception and that partisans are implying he meant something else.

“It’s incredibly irresponsible for anyone to take what Richard said about his views on life to demean his opposition to the detestable act of rape,” McConnell said, according to the Indiana paper. 

“We’re at the end of an election season here and I understand each side is looking to make hay out of every comment, but sharing the view of millions of Americans that life begins at conception is Richard’s deeply held personal belief that shouldn’t be misconstrued by partisans to imply something it does not."

At a debate Tuesday night against his Democratic opponent, Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Mourdock said he believes abortion should be illegal in cases of rape and incest, and "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something God intended to happen."

Mourdock and Donnelly are running to replace Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.), whom Mourdock defeated in the GOP primary earlier this year.

Some Republicans distanced themselves from Mourdock after his comment, including GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).

Mourdock did not apologize for his comment, saying it's part of his “deepest level” of faith.

—This story was updated at 4:56 p.m. to reflect changes made by The Courier-Journal's initial report.

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