Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock is a geologist by trade. But he now has to dig himself out of controversy.
Vanderburgh County GOP Chairman Wayne Parke knows him and the situation well.
"I knew him in the energy industry. He's always been someone willing to express his view point," said Parke. "He understands other points of view. Just because you disagree with him, you're still his friend."
Mourdock's foes pounced on his controversial comments just seconds after he made them Tuesday night.
"I don't agree with (Mourdock's statements) nor do I believe most people do," said Parke. "But I think that's a personal, religious thing that Mourdock believes. I wish he hadn't stated it, it's not a good thing for sure."
With well-trained eyes, University of Evansville professor Dr. Robert Dion has a pulse on politics.
"We're all keenly tuned these days for something that's out of the ordinary," said Dr. Dion. "This was the third debate and it wasn't particularly interesting. They kept saying the same thing over and over. It's the thing that's unusual that makes news."
It's not just news but national news that spotlighted the bitter battle between Democrat Joe Donnelly and Republican Richard Mourdock. Dr. Dion says it's a battle where Mourdoch has struggled to gain footing even while Mourdock remains firm in his stance on abortion.
"Anytime there's a race this close, a stumble in this manner can throw things off and you might lose a few votes," said Dr. Dion. "But those votes could be the difference."
Parke agrees but also realizes while abortion is a key issue, there are other important issues this election.
"I believe voters will look at all issues not just one and make their choice on who will be the next senator here in Indiana to replace Dick Lugar," said Parke. "It's a big decision not just for Indiana but for the nation."
"This is not a good place to be this close to the election," said Dr. Dion. "If I were advising the candidate, I think it would be a smart thing to be in front of this story and distance himself from the unfortunate comment he made."
Dion says the comment was unfortunate and untimely. While Mourdock remains enveloped in controversy, Dion and Parke believes the situation isn't insurmountable.
"Is Mourdock dead in the water? No. This remains a close race," said Dr. Dion. "I suspect Joe Donnelly is in a place he wants to be right now and Richard Mourdock is in a place where he doesn't want to be right now."
Mourdock: Rape Comment 'Misunderstood'
Gov. Mitt Romney: "I still support Mourdock"
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The following is a statement from Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
"Richard Mourdock's remarks about rape are reprehensible and especially outrageous coming from a major party candidate for the U.S. Senate. This isn't just about what politicians like Richard Mourdock, Todd Akin, Steve King and Joe Walsh say -- it's about the policies they would enact in partnership with a Romney/Ryan Administration. These are the very politicians that Mitt Romney has promised to put in charge of a woman's personal health care decisions.
"Mitt Romney and Richard Mourdock share an allegiance to the Republican Party platform, which would ban safe and legal abortion without any exceptions, give full constitutional rights to fertilized eggs, and repeal the birth control benefit.
"Richard Mourdock is the only Senate candidate in the country with a TV ad starring Mitt Romney. It's not enough for the Romney campaign to issue a tepid statement 'disagreeing' with Richard Mourdock's appalling remarks. Mitt Romney must immediately rescind his endorsement of Murdock and demand that Murdock take down the campaign ads featuring him."
Vanderburgh County GOP Chairman Wayne Parke knows him and the situation well.
"I knew him in the energy industry. He's always been someone willing to express his view point," said Parke. "He understands other points of view. Just because you disagree with him, you're still his friend."
Mourdock's foes pounced on his controversial comments just seconds after he made them Tuesday night.
"I don't agree with (Mourdock's statements) nor do I believe most people do," said Parke. "But I think that's a personal, religious thing that Mourdock believes. I wish he hadn't stated it, it's not a good thing for sure."
With well-trained eyes, University of Evansville professor Dr. Robert Dion has a pulse on politics.
"We're all keenly tuned these days for something that's out of the ordinary," said Dr. Dion. "This was the third debate and it wasn't particularly interesting. They kept saying the same thing over and over. It's the thing that's unusual that makes news."
It's not just news but national news that spotlighted the bitter battle between Democrat Joe Donnelly and Republican Richard Mourdock. Dr. Dion says it's a battle where Mourdoch has struggled to gain footing even while Mourdock remains firm in his stance on abortion.
"Anytime there's a race this close, a stumble in this manner can throw things off and you might lose a few votes," said Dr. Dion. "But those votes could be the difference."
Parke agrees but also realizes while abortion is a key issue, there are other important issues this election.
"I believe voters will look at all issues not just one and make their choice on who will be the next senator here in Indiana to replace Dick Lugar," said Parke. "It's a big decision not just for Indiana but for the nation."
"This is not a good place to be this close to the election," said Dr. Dion. "If I were advising the candidate, I think it would be a smart thing to be in front of this story and distance himself from the unfortunate comment he made."
Dion says the comment was unfortunate and untimely. While Mourdock remains enveloped in controversy, Dion and Parke believes the situation isn't insurmountable.
"Is Mourdock dead in the water? No. This remains a close race," said Dr. Dion. "I suspect Joe Donnelly is in a place he wants to be right now and Richard Mourdock is in a place where he doesn't want to be right now."
Mourdock: Rape Comment 'Misunderstood'
Gov. Mitt Romney: "I still support Mourdock"
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Indiana
Right to Life Political Action Committee's (PAC) Chairman Mike Fichter
released the following statement in support of Richard Mourdock after
the final senate debate:
"Tonight, Richard Mourdock
showed Hoosiers that he will stand up for all innocent, human life once
elected to the U.S. Senate. Richard recognizes what our Founding Fathers
wisely proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence.
They declared that we are endowed by our Creator with the unalienable
rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
"Rape is a vile act,
committed in evil. When a pregnancy results out of this horrific crime,
every bit of care and love must be shown to the victim. We believe that
life begins at fertilization and with fertilization
comes the right to life as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence.
"While the senate debate in
New Albany, Ind. was going on tonight, in West Lafayette, Ind., Rebecca
Kiessling was addressing a Tippecanoe County Right to Life event.
Rebecca was conceived in rape. Even though her mother
attempted to abort her on two occasions, Rebecca was born and she gives a
face to someone conceived in rape. Only God can know the purpose for
all human life whether conceived in rape, an unplanned pregnancy or
planned circumstances.
"We find it reprehensible
that Joe Donnelly would try to make rape a political issue. That type of
rhetoric is disrespectful in and of itself to rape victims and
individuals conceived in rape.
"Richard Mourdock is our pro-life choice for U.S. Senate and we look forward to him representing Hoosier values in Washington."
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The following is a statement from Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
"Richard Mourdock's remarks about rape are reprehensible and especially outrageous coming from a major party candidate for the U.S. Senate. This isn't just about what politicians like Richard Mourdock, Todd Akin, Steve King and Joe Walsh say -- it's about the policies they would enact in partnership with a Romney/Ryan Administration. These are the very politicians that Mitt Romney has promised to put in charge of a woman's personal health care decisions.
"Mitt Romney and Richard Mourdock share an allegiance to the Republican Party platform, which would ban safe and legal abortion without any exceptions, give full constitutional rights to fertilized eggs, and repeal the birth control benefit.
"Richard Mourdock is the only Senate candidate in the country with a TV ad starring Mitt Romney. It's not enough for the Romney campaign to issue a tepid statement 'disagreeing' with Richard Mourdock's appalling remarks. Mitt Romney must immediately rescind his endorsement of Murdock and demand that Murdock take down the campaign ads featuring him."
