INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock is standing by his statement that when a woman becomes pregnant during a rape "that's something God intended."
At a news conference called on Wednesday morning, Mourdock says some people have twisted his comment. Mourdock adds that he abhors any sexual violence and regrets it if his comment during a debate Tuesday night left another impression.
Mourdock made the original comments when asked during a debate Tuesday night whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.
He replied: "Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."
Mourdock's comments come two months after Missouri GOP Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin said women's bodies have ways of preventing pregnancy in cases of what he called "legitimate rape."
Mourdock is locked in a tight race with Democrat Rep. Joe Donnelly. Democrats quickly criticized Mourdock's comments, and a spokeswoman for Mitt Romney says the GOP presidential hopeful disagrees with Mourdock.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
