Mourdock talks campaign before GOP Bean Dinner

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Senate candidate Richard Mourdock was one of several candidates making an appearance at the yearly Republican Bean Dinner Tuesday night in Fort Wayne. NewsChannel 15 asked him about how his campaign's going.

That's because a week prior to the GOP Bean Dinner, Mourdock made a somewhat controversial comment on rape at a Senate debate . NewsChannel 15 asked if the comment has impacted his campaign. Mourdock said we'll just have to wait and see what voters decide come November 6th.

"The news cycle has moved on. As we've been traveling around the state of Indiana the thing we've been hearing about it is how do we get our economy going again. How do we make sure that we have jobs and our children and grandchildren have jobs? That's what I've been hearing about and that's what people have been talking about," Mourdock said.

When we asked how the comment may impact his campaign Mourdock said this: "We're looking forward to November 6th. We are thrilled to death with where we are. It's a tight race to be sure."

Democratic candidate running for Senate, Joe Donnelly, began running an ad with Mourdock's controversial comment in it just days after the debate. Mourdock said Donnelly has spent $8 million on negative campaign ads.

"The ad that's running is certainly described by the Wall Street Journal as rather sleazy. To be attacked for one's faith is politics today."

State Democratic Party spokesman, Ben Ray, said Mourdock's comment on rape will impact Mourdock's chance of winning the election.

"As we call into homes of undecided voters we see Richard Mourdock support steadily going down and Joe Donnelly support steadily going up," Ben Ray explained.

Ray said Donnelly's purpose behind the ad is to bring the comment to light for voters to see.

"The State Democratic Party is not advertising that issue. And of course Joe is making sure he advertises on Richard Mourdock's pattern of out of the mainstream remarks and pattern of extreme comments."