Mourdock defends controversial comments

Senate Candidate Richard Mourdock defended his controversial comments made in Tuesday's debate about rape and abortion.

Mourdock was asked about rape and abortion during the debate. He explained his opposition to abortion in cases of rape or incest.

"I struggled with it myself, but life is that gift from God and even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, it is something that God intended to happen," Mourdock said during the debate.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Mourdock clarified his remarks and apologized for the confusion.

"And if, because of the lack of clarity in my words, that they come away with an impression other than those that I stated a moment ago," Mourdock said. "I'm confident God abhors violence and rape, if they came away with any impression other than that, I truly regret it."

Mourdock said people are twisting his words for the sake of partisan politics.

"I did not intend to suggest that god wants rape, pushes people to rape and that God condones evil in any because that goes against the strongest base of my faith," Moudock added. "So many people mistook twisted, came to misunderstand the points that I was trying to make."

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and several other Republicans tried to distance themselves from Mourdock on Wednesday saying that they did not agree with Mourdock's views.

Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Pense even asked Mourdock to take back his comments.