Romney and Ryan 'would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,' the campaign said. Romney, Ryan 'disagree' with Akin

Mitt Romney distanced himself Monday morning from Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin’s controversial comments about “legitimate rape,” slamming the statement as “insulting, inexcusable, and frankly, wrong,” in a telephone interview with National Review Online.

He added that, “Like millions of other Americans, we found [the comments] to be offensive.”


Romney’s remarks came a day after his campaign made it clear that a Romney-Ryan administration would allow a woman impregnated due to rape to have an abortion.

“Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,” the Romney campaign said in a statement Sunday evening.

In widely criticized remarks to a St. Louis Fox station, Akin said that victims of “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant.

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” he said.

Akin did not apologize for the comment, but did say that he “misspoke” during the interview.

“In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year,” he said in a statement. “I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action.”

( Also on POLITICO: 5 controversial Akin quotes)

Akin is a six-term congressman running for Senate against incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

“As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases,” McCaskill responded Sunday on Twitter, “I’m stunned by Rep. Akin’s comments about victims this AM.”

GOP strategist Karl Rove also weighed in on the incident Monday morning, saying on Fox News that Akin’s comments will be “important inside Missouri” — but not as important as issues like jobs and the economy.

“Well, let’s see how it plays out,” Rove said, adding, “He’s got some real explaining to do.”