Daily Kos Elections Morning Digest: Richard Mourdock: Even when life begins in rape, God intended it

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' IN-Sen: In case you somehow haven't seen this yet, well, it was Wednesday's the story of the day. Hell, it may even be the story of the week. Republican Senate nominee Richard Mourdock, at Tuesday night's debate:

I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen.

The political world exploded upon hearing these remarks, with everyone with a conscience condemning Mourdock for suggesting that there's some supreme being who "intends" rape to happen. Predictably, Mourdock furiously tried to backpedal in his post-debate remarks:

"What I said was, in answering the question form my position of faith, I said I believe that God creates life. I believe that as wholly and as fully as I can believe it. That God creates life," Mourdock said. "Are you trying to suggest that somehow I think that God pre-ordained rape? No, I don't think that. That's sick. Twisted. That's not even close to what I said. What I said is that God creates life."

But that's not what Mourdock said, and that's not what anyone heard. Hell, even Mitt Romney didn't want to have anything to do with Mourdock:

"Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock's comments, and they do not reflect his views," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement.

Oh! But there's a wee problem, Governor! Just check out this video. If you're not able to watch, Romney (as you may know) just cut an ad on behalf of Mourdock. American Bridge has helpfully mashed up some of Mourdock's greatest hits (including, of course, the new rape remarks you read just above), sandwiched between Romney's words of endorsement from that new spot. Just brutal. Kind of like Mourdock's entire campaign.

Of course, the Mourdock fallout (and you knew there would be plenty) continued throughout the day on Wednesday:

"I strongly disagree with the statement made by Richard Mourdock during last night's Senate debate. I urge him to apologize," U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, the Republican candidate in Indiana's race for governor, said in a statement Wednesday morning.

Pence is almost a lock to win his race, so it's interesting that he's taking no chances and disavowing Mourdock. But NRSC chair John Cornyn is digging in:

"Richard and I, along with millions of Americans ' including even Joe Donnelly ' believe that life is a gift from God. To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous," Cornyn said.

Needless to say, Cornyn's truly up against a wall. After watching Todd Akin brutally undermine one of the GOP's best pickup opportunities in Missouri, Cornyn can't afford to abandon yet another Senate candidate. He must want to strangle Mourdock, though, who turned what was an almost certain Republican hold into a very vulnerable tossup. For that alone, Democrats everywhere should send Mourdock Christmas cards.

Now, you don't really get any points for guessing that Scott Brown wants out:

"Scott Brown is pro-choice and does not agree with the views expressed by Richard Mourdock," Alleigh Marre said in a statement. "They do not reflect his thinking at all."

New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte going to ground is a little more interesting, though:

Ayotte's spokesman, Jeff Grappone, said Wednesday that the senator disagrees with Mourdock's comments, which do not represent her views. Ayotte was scheduled to campaign with Mourdock on Wednesday, but canceled her trip and is in New Hampshire instead.

Hilariously, Mourdock's campaign is claiming that they asked Ayotte not to come!

For good measure, IL-17 GOP Rep. Bobby Schilling, locked in a very tough re-election battle, also decided to call on Mourdock to apologize. For Republicans who can do a convincing job of acting non-insane, this is kind of a freebie'they get an opportunity to distance themselves from the crazies. But for Mitt Romney and every Republican who's publicly taken Mourdock's side, this is all still a very big problem.

And for what it's worth, Mourdock predictably refused to apologize for his beliefs, only offering an "I'm sorry if you understood" no-pology. I'm starting to think that Richard Mourdock losing may, in fact, be something that God intended to happen.