Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) became the most prominent Republican to call on Indiana senate candidate Richard Mourdock to apologize for claiming, during a debate on Tuesday night, that pregnancies resulting from rape are a “gift from God.” The Arizona senator told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Wednesday night that he would withhold his support until Mourdock “apologizes and says he misspoke, and he was wrong and he asks the people to forgive him”:
Like Mitt Romney, McCain endorsed and campaigned for Mourdock, though the GOP presidential candidate has yet to pull his ad touting the Indiana state treasurer or explicitly renounce him.
Mourdock refused to apologize for his comments in a press conference earlier today.
Polls show President Obama leading Romney among women by an average of 9 points.
Update:
A McCain spokesperson walked back the senator’s comments on Thursday morning: “Senator McCain is glad that Mr. Mourdock apologized to the people of Indiana.”