Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, the presumed Republican front-runner for U.S. Senate, is under fire from a primary rival for a comment on abortion.

State Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, is seizing on reports from left-leaning bloggers who have jumped on Buck, saying he’s comparing cancer to being pregnant.

In an interview on 560-AM KLZ earlier this week, Buck said he understands a woman wants to be in control of her body.

“It’s certainly the feeling that I had when I was a cancer patient, I wanted to be in control of the decisions that were made concerning my body — there is another fundamental issue at stake. And that’s the life of the unborn child,” said Buck, noting his previous bout with lymphoma, which went into remission last year.

A political science professor said the comparison is unusual, but the brouhaha is overblown.

“It’s Ken again being Ken,” Stephens, who is among several Republicans vying to unseat U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, insisted Thursday. “Just like in 2010, we have high-heels comments, we have alcoholism and homosexuality, now we’ve got cancer and pregnancy.”

Buck in 2010 was the nominee for U.S. Senate against Democrat Michael Bennet. His statement on “Meet the Press” comparing homosexuality to alcoholism was considered the turning point in a campaign he had been expected to win.

“It is a bit of a head-scratcher, linking decisions on health care — whether cancer, heart attack, arthritis, gunshot wounds — to the reproductive issue,” said John Straayer, a professor of political science at Colorado State University.

But, he added, the hoopla from left-leaning critics and Stephens is overblown.

Tim Griesmer, Buck’s campaign manager, agreed.

“Ken was asked about his position on abortion and stated that he is pro-life,” he said of his candidate, who in recent polls is the clear front-runner in the pack of Republicans vying to unseat Udall.

Both Buck and Stephens oppose abortion.

On Thursday, Buck’s wife, state Rep. Perry Buck, co-sponsored a measure that would outlaw abortions in Colorado. Democrats attacked the legislation as out of touch with Colorado’s female voters.

Kurtis Lee: 303-954-1655, klee@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kurtisalee