Donnelly: Mourdock's comment was "insulting to women, to rape victims and to their families"

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)  Wednesday morning Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Donnelly addressed a comment made by Republican opponent Richard Mourdock during Tuesday evening's Indiana Senate Debate  that has made national headlines.

In an interview with NewsChannel 15's Mark Mellinger, Donnelly said the comment Richard Mourdock made regarding when a woman becomes pregnant by rape did strike him as offensive in the moment.

"I thought it was shocking to say and a little bit later the Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney, disavowed the comments as well," said Donnelly. "And today Mike Pence disavowed those comments and actually called on Mr. Mourdock to apologize."

Romney distances himself from Murdock comment

The debate between Mourdock, Democrat Joe Donnelly, and Libertarian Andrew Horning was hitting the home-stretch when the issue of abortion seemingly overshadowed the entire night.

Mourdock made the controversial comment while answering a question about faith and how it relates to his view on abortion.

All candidates were asked how their faith plays a part in their views on abortion.

Mourdock and Donnelly said they believe life begins at conception.

Mourdock also said he supports an abortion only if the mother's life is at risk. He then made the comment that has been making headlines ever since:

"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God," said Mourdock. "And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended it to happen."

Stay tuned to WANE.com and the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m newscasts for updates and local reaction.