i'm carol costello. we continue now with ashleigh he's able to say that, because it's true. banfield. >> thanks very much, carol. they don't reflect his views. i'm ashleigh banfield in new there are differences among york. it's 11:00 on the east coast and 8:00 a.m. on the west coast. republicans and really anybody, who is against abortion. 13 days until the election. and really is whether or not 13 days to get your base there should be exceptions in what you've been talking about. energized. get your supporters to the rape, incest and the life of a polls. and talk to as many undecideds mother. in the case of mourdock, he as possible. and really, we're only talking explained why he doesn't think about a handful of states here. there should be an exception for rape. you want to stay on point. mitt romney does think there should be an exception for all no distractions, no blunders. three of those things. so that's -- >> is that good enough, dana, to so you can imagine what it was put out a statement from one of like for mitt romney to wake up your staffers? today and hear about this. or does he need to take the bull by the horns and say -- and like republican tea party-backed you said before, almost throw him under the bus, somewhat, in candidate richard mourdock order to make sure you running for the u.s. senate in a protect -- let's put the gallup close race in indiana told a at any time audience that children poll up of how women -- you mentioned, he's desperate to get conceived in rape are still the women's vote. god's gift, and part of god's where do women fall on their will. importance of agenda. and it's at the top, dana, 39%. >> i believe that life begins at it's the top issue for women. conception. and this was gallup -- this was the only exception i have for -- conducted between october 5th and 11th so fairly recent. to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. but it's pretty significant when you see it trumps jobs. i just -- i struggled with it >> that is why democrats pounced myself for a long time, but i cape to realize, life is that on this. and the ad you just played was

from the democratic national gift from god. and i think even when life committee. begins in that horrible it's just a web ad, but clearly situation of rape, that it is they want this to go viral. something that god intended to and they were playing the television ad that mitt romney happen. >> god intended to happen. cut for mourdock. they're trying -- beating the listen, rape, abortion, they are republicans over the head, mitt romney's campaign in particular, saying he's got to denounce explosive flashpoint issues for the republicans. mourdock, he's got to take back and this is one of the most his endorsement of mourdock. costly and closely watched you know, whether that's going senate races in the country to happen, i'm actually waiting right now. remember that republicans want to get an e-mail back from the to gain control of the senate romney campaign to see if where democrats hold a slim they're going to see anything majority. more than this, and this and this. the tea party-backed mourdock but there is definitely a conflict here. was asked about his position on because in indiana, it's a very conservative state. abortion. and when it came to pregnancies the democratic candidate for in cases of rape or inseft, as senate is somebody who is anti-abortion. he believes in the exception. you heard, he said it was >> so it may not have as big an something, quote, god intended effect. >> not necessarily -- this is to happen. the backlash to that statement not just about indiana. alone, regardless of what he this is about america. meant by it, was immediate, it it's about the presidential race right now, and mitt romney was intense. and following the debate, mr. having to -- as you said, have mourdock put out this statement. any distractions, particularly to clarify. and said this. when it comes to his quest for quote, god creates life. women voters. >> thank you. as you mentioned earlier and and that was my point. thank you for bringing to our god does not want rape. attention, a live news conference scheduled by mr.

and by no means was i suggesting mourdock at the bottom of the that he does. hour. so my apologies, we will watch rape is a horrible thing, and for that. and we will look to see what he for anyone to twist my words has to say, if anything. otherwise is absurd and sick. to clear that up. in the meantime, some people are mourdock's statement is coming saying this close to the end of out of a political controversy, the race, it all comes down to should we say three-peat almost. two words. ground game. we'll talk about that in a moment. plus presents the cold truth. congressman todd aciken's i have a cold, and i took nyquil, but i'm still stubbed up. comments in august where he [ male announcer ] truth is, talked about legitimate rape and nyquil doesn't unstuff your nose. a woman's body being somehow what? [ male announcer ] it doesn't have a decongestant. able to reject a pregnancy from no way. a rapist. and last week, congressman joe [ male announcer ] sorry. alka-seltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms walsh running in illinois only plus has a fast-acting decongestant to relieve your stuffy nose. fueling the flames by suggesting in a question about abortion thanks. [ male announcer ] you're welcome. when the life of a mother is at that's the cold truth! risk that women don't die [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus. anymore in childbirth days of ♪ oh what a relief it is! advances in had science. [ male announcer ] try new alka-seltzer plus severe allergy >> first of all, from what i to treat allergy symptoms plus sinus congestion and pain. understand from doctors, that's really rare. if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. >> let me briefly say, there is no such exception. with modern technology and science, you can't find one

instance. >> do you mean to say it's never medically necessary to do an abortion, to save the life of a mother? >> absolutely. >> okay. i have a statistic for you. 600 women die every year in childbirth. doctors go on to say that numbers would be higher if, in fact, there weren't abortions for this particular situation. and this is according to the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists. not even just doctors. mourdo mourdock's comments are the latest -- this trifecta on rape and abortion. it has caused a huge controversy in the gop and our correspondent dana bash is following all of this closely. as i get your reaction and what you've been hearing from the gop on this, i just want to remind people who are watching the clock here, because president obama is about to speak any moment. this has to be huge, not just for mr. romney, but it has to be huge for the senate race. >> sure. >> and let's start in the senate race. this was already a race tighter than republicans had expected, regardless of this. and there's no question that

democrats are jumping on this. they've already nationally released a web video. they took ten minutes, ashleigh, 100% new. to put out a statement, because they believe this is something 100% mmm... that will play right into, as wow, that is mmm... you said, their war on women it's so mmm you might not believe narrative against republicans. it's a hundred calories. but the one thing i will say, new yoplait greek 100. though, remember during todd it is so good. akin's controversy, the new yoplait greek 100. republicans nationally really threw him under the bus. syou know, i've helped a lot off people save a lot of money. >> is that what they're going to but today...( sfx: loud noise of large metal object hitting the ground) do this time? >> they're not doing this time, not at all. things have been a little strange. because they argue this is different. and you know what, in many ways it is. what todd akin said is something (sfx: sound of piano smashing) that is biologically, scientifically, not accurate. women cannot reject pregnancy roadrunner: meep meep. out of rape. meep meep? what mourdock was saying, inarticulately, he explained afterwards, he was trying to (sfx: loud thud sound) explain why he does not believe what a strange place. there should be an exception for rape in the case of abortion. geico®. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. and there are lots of republicans who believe that. having said that, this is politically difficult for republicans, and that's why even the man running for governor, mike pence, very popular in indiana, even he is saying so i brought it to mike at meineke. mourdock should apologize and we gave her car a free road handling check. we're told he's going to have a i like free. press conference at the bottom of the hour. >> mr. mourdock planning to go free is good.

my money. my choice. my meineke. live? >> exactly. >> we'll keep a watch on that. i have so many more questions for you. but in the meantime, the president trumps you, if you could stand tight. dana bash, thank you. want to take you live to davenport, iowa, where the president is beginning what one might call a blitzkrieg, six time is of the essence now for both president barack obama states, two days, and you can and governor mitt romney. hear for yourself the message. this is it. let's listen in. it is the race to the finish with only 13 days left. >> if you talk about how much what do they need to do? well, that might explain why the you love teachers during a next few days are so critical. debate, but just a few weeks ago every tv ad, every robocall, you said we shouldn't hire anymore teachers because they every campaign worker and every won't grow the economy. knock on every door, a political you probably have romneyesia. calculation that factors into a complex game of what you might call campaign chess. if you sit on stage in a right now, both president obama nationally televised debate, and governor romney are saying how much you love cars, strategically stumping in the battleground states. you're a car guy. and who wins could literally except you wrote an article and come down to who has the better ground game. titled it, "let detroit go the ground game, just getting those people who might like you, bankrupt." but might not vote to actually then you almost certainly have go and vote. romneyesia. today, the president is in iowa, if you can't seem to remember colorado, california, and

the policies on your own nevada. the blue line, his campaign website, or the promises you made over the last six years blitz just today and tomorrow. that you've been running for while mr. romney is going to hit president, or the promises you nevada and iowa. made six days ago, you probably the red line shows his flight plan for today. have romneyesia. and vice president joe biden and congressman paul ryan are but don't worry, obamacare crossing paths in ohio, another covers preexisting conditions. we can pick you up. there's a cure. very critical state. we can make you well. and that's why cnn has dispatched the best of the best. as long as you vote, iowa, we chief business correspondent ali can cure folks of this malady. of this disease. velshi and john avalon on the cnn election express battleground bus tour. all right. so looks like you are both on vacation. let's just start with the picture behind you. i want that assignment. listen, smart people who don't but it's going to get real have a dog in this fight, tough. i've lived on a bus before for a month or so, and it's no fun. independent analysts, so let me start with the economists, they took out their business of it. ali, to you first. pencils, they had their green we just showed a very big map to eye shades, they crunched the numbers. cover for these candidates. turns out, governor romney's economic plan is a sketchy deal. i'm wondering if in some of your driving, and this is highly the results are not what you unscientific, are you seeing the would want to write home about. lawn sign metric? are you seeing more romney/ryan the "washington post goals calls

signs than obama/biden signs, or his job plan a bait and switch. the bait is that his promise is it too early in your tour to that his plan creates 12 million tell me that? >> well, first of all, we're jobs. the switch is the fact that his talking to a lot of undecided plan doesn't create 12 million voters, and so as to not offend jobs. that's the bait and the switch. in fact, it won't even create anybody, john is dressed like an uncommitted voter, and i'm jobs right now. bipartisan. i've got blue, red and a little and then governor romney wants yellow and green, just to throw to spend $5 trillion on tax cuts into the mix. but we're in undecided country, that favor the wealthy. right? $2 trillion on defense spending we've got polk county, where that our military isn't asking we're in, got as many registered for. and he wants you to believe that democrats as republicans and the he can do that without adding to remaining people seem to be the deficit or raising middle split the same way. so we're trying to find out class taxes. where people are leaning and the problem is, you would need what kind of decisions they're making to get there, and they to invechnt a new kind of map t tend to be economic decisions. what we're surrounded by are campaign ads endlessly in actually make this true. florida, super pac billboards on the arithmetic does not work. the highway. but there are people with two weeks to go, ashleigh, who are so we know governor romney's not decided. they are not disengaged, jobs plan doesn't create jobs. generally speaking. they have been following his deficit plan doesn't reduce everything. the deficit. they want specific answers to their questions about how these and we joke about romneyesia, candidates are going to reach the goals that they have promised. but all of this speaks to and they are not satisfied that something that is really they're getting it. important and that the issue of they feel these candidates are trust. playing too much to their base, there is no more serious issue they're answering specific questions with generalities, and

on a presidential campaign than they're not yet decided. now we're trying to find out how trust. they're going to get decided in the next two weeks, but that's trust matters. what we're finding. and here's the thing. >> well, okay. and let's move on to the other major issue, and john, this is something you wrote about. iowa, you know me. you know that i say what i mean. "newsweek" and "the daily beast," a piece about how this and i mean what i say. is such a tight race in such critical swing states, battleground states. it may actually come down to the there are some folks in this crowd who have been probably foot patrols. following me since i was running who has got more people going for the united states senate. out, knocking on doors and literally hauling people to the and you know what? polls. it's called the ground game. you can -- like this guy right here, who i served with in the and what you wrote was astounding in terms of the math. united states senate, george who got in earlier, who set up shaddu shadduck. more, who has more headquarters, and you can take and videotape who has more campaign stops. things i said 10 years ago, 12 can you lay that out for me? years ago, and you would say, man, this is the same guy. >> absolutely, ashleigh. and this is -- owe the ground has the same values. cares about the same people. game is key, an election this tight comes down to ground game, doesn't forget where he came from. early voting. and the numbers this terms of local headquarters are stunning. knows who he is fighting for. nationally, obama has a clear edge. 750 local campaign offices and you know what? compared to around 280 for the i haven't finished all the work romney campaign.

that we set out to do back in so almost a 3-1 split. 2008. in the state of florida, but i have fought for you every tighter. 2-1, advantage obama, 102 to 48. single day that i've held this office. local headquarters. this is just one metric. local headquarters is a question and with your help, i've kept of real estate. what really matters is those voter engagements. it's the phone calls they've the commitments i've made. made, the ability to get people to the polls. i told you we would end the war it's the ability to get people to vote early. that is particularly key in a in iraq. we did. state like florida. but ground game is a critical i said we'd begin the process of measure in a race this tight, everything matters in the final ending the war in afghanistan. sprint. and this -- in the case of we are. i said we would refocus on the headquarters, it's advantage obama, no question. terrorists who actually attacked >> you know what, just as you us on 9/11 and we have. were saying that, we popped up a graphic. and a new tower rises over the and i want to look at those numbers again, because i couldn't believe it. it was the headquarters in ohio, new york skyline, al qaeda is on the path to defeat and osama bin florida and virginia, which are laden is dead. three of the most critical i kept that promise. >> our jessica yellin, cnn's states. obama has 122 to romney's 40. white house correspondent, is on the campaign with the president, in florida, obama has 102 to and presumably on board for a romney's 48. and in virginia, 47-29. very difficult two days, as the blitzkrieg goes through six a bit closer there. states. jessica, just wrap-up for me quickly, the president is going that's just those three states. to be facing tough questions of and quickly, john, i have to wrap it up. his own as he goes from state to but the other battleground states, are they representative state. and clearly he's going to be like this, as well, in terms of

moving at pace. >> reporter: i'm sorry, it's obama really just -- almost 5-1, loud here, ashleigh. outnumbering romney in the would you ask the question battleground -- in the ground again? >> give me a feel for the pace he has to take to cover as many game effort. states in as little as two days >> it is pretty consistent. as he plans. across the nation, obama has >> reporter: right. around 750 local headquarters. he is going nonstop and through mitt romney's campaign has around 280. the night from here to denver. but, again -- >> wow. >> folks in the romney and and then on to nevada. republican camp will tell you the rnc is deeply invested in there is a stop in between. ground game, particularly, and he will go on at some point these headquarters are just one tomorrow, we go to virginia and metric. what really matters is voter ohio again, but he also goes to contacts, voter outreach. los angeles. he goes to illinois to vote. and republicans feel they have an edge there. he's stopping on the jay leno but the obama campaign has been at this the last 18 months during the whole time romney was running to get the nomination, the obama campaign was focused show and did an interview with on building out their ground "the did es moines register," a game. >> ali and john, thank you very much. >> whose shirt? >> i'm not -- i'm not getting -- off the record interview, they i'm going to show you one thing. published a blog post expressing their frustration it was off the the only voting i'm doing today -- look at this, boys. record. and the white house agreed to put it on the record. this is my absentee ballot, and for the first time we heard because i'm going to be traveling and working for cnn on the president say some of what election day. we've already known privately, so i just want the public to -- but that includes the fact that know. i have a stamp on it and if he's re-elected in a second everything.

i'm the most pious citizen, term, he would push for because i'm a news citizen. immigration reform right away in the first year, and he believes please, everyone, vote. even if you have to work on it. he could get it. that's a headline. gentlemen, thank you, enjoy. and also, that he thinks he can i expect a snow globe from all get something equivalent to the of your stops. so-called grand bargain, as he >> you got it, ash. negotiates with congress on these entitlement and tax reform >> bye, guys. back in a moment. changes, if he's re-elected, ashleigh. >> all right, jessica, i'll let you get back to the president's who has 11 major brands to choose from? rally. i know you have a lot on your your ford dealer. who's offering a rebate? your ford dealer. who has the low price tire guarantee... agenda for two days. in the meantime, there is something more i want to tell but what the president is going affording peace of mind to anyone who might be in the market for a new set of res? to have to deal with as he moves your ford dealer. from state to state today. i'm beginning to sense a pattern. and that's a story that's been plaguing him for a month now. buy four select tires, get a $60 rebate. the attack in libya that killed use the ford service credit credit card, get $60 more. that's up to $120. those four americans, including our ambassador on september 11th. the president has said repeat where did you get that sweater vest? your ford dealer. repeatedly, he shared with all of us, the public, what he knew about the attack. including if it was an act of terrorism. but now we're starting to find out that the white house was told within hours that a radical islamic group was claiming responsibility for the killings. now, that's a group claiming responsibility. it's a little bit different than us finding out that. there were e-mails, apparently,

i just served my mother-in-law your chicken noodle soup obtained by cnn sent to the but she loved it so much... i told her it was homemade. state department, sent to the white house, and to the fbi, on everyone tells a little white lie now and then. september 11th. but now she wants my recipe and the first one says, in part, [ clears his throat ] [ softly ] she's right behind me isn't she? quote, the diplomatic mission is [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. under attack. approximately 20 armed people fired shots, explosions have been heard as well. ambassador stevens, who is currently in benghazi and four c.o.m. personnel are in the compound safe haven. but a second e-mail saying the firing of the u.s. diplomatic mission in benghazi has been stopped and the compound has been cleared, end quote. the last e-mail came about an hour later. and this is key. subject line reads, "update to. ans ansar al sharia claims responsibilities for the attack. embassy tripoli reports the group claimed responsibility on faib and twitter and called for an attack on embassy tripoli. that group has ties to al qaeda and this morning two white house

officials told cnn, the e-mails came from the state department o.p. center sharing public knowledge about the claim that was made on facebook. they say the white house has had other information along with that public knowledge that conflicted with those reports. and one source says, quote, there are always multiple and conflicting reports in the initial hours of an attack. that's why you have an investigation. but clearly it could be troublesome for the president as he continues to campaign. i want to take us back to the story we began this newscast with. and that is yet another republican candidate for congress. this candidate for the senate, making very controversial remarks about abortion. richard mourdock suggesting that in the case of rape, that this is somehow, in his words, god's will that the pregnancy may have

actually happened. but that that's god's will. and that has sparked a flashpoint for a lot of people. even mitt romney has had to deal for the first time ever, an african-american woman is the with the fallout on this, because it wasn't long ago that winner of the coveted director governor romney actually award. that's from the sun dance film campaigned with mr. mourdock, and actually released an ad on festival. trust me, it is a big deal. his behalf. have a look. the film "middle of nowhere" is now in theatres, a gripping story of a wife whose world is shattered when her husband is sent off to prison. she talks about her struggles and is she talks about her success. >> my name is ava duvvernay, and >> this fall, i'm supporting i'm a black woman film maker. richard mourdock for senate. >> i can't believe it. >> even when life begins in that ten months early. >> good news. >> great news. horrible situation of rape, that you've got everything going for you. you're coming home. it is something that god >> at this point, i've made intended to happen. >> this is a man who i want to films i've written. it takes a lot to make a film. see in washington to make sure it's a lot of brain power, a lot that we could not just talk of heart, a lot of your spirit about changing things, but actually have the votes to get goes into these films. things changed.

>> senior congressional the framing of the shots in my correspondent dana bash is still films, the choices of music, the here with me, and i'm sorry we cadence and rhythm of the are interrupteded your report editing. because of the president's live all of that i'm very aware is event. this is clearly on a lot of coming through who i am. people's agenda today. for his part, mr. mourdock has and i'm a sister, so -- so i said, i did not mean to say that wear that very proudly. rape is god's will. rape is a horrible thing. i made a career change from but the resulting pregnancy, any publicist to film maker. for me as a publicist, i had had pregnancy, is god's will. so he is trying to clear this a really great job. up. but in the meantime, governor i would be on these film sets in pain, want to go make my own. romney has this optics issue, and his support of this candidate to deal with. i would be asked to make movies how is he responding today? that were caricatures of women >> optics issue. and the big issue, the fact that as black people. he has been desperately trying to get the votes of women, and so for me, it was just really this is not going to help. so the way he responded through about pushing through all of a spokeswoman was saying, that fear. governor romney disagrees with richard mourdock's comments and they do not reflect his views. i think the only thing that drove me is this idea of forward movement. never stay still. i think there is something very powerful and something amazing to be said for momentum. my next film, "middle of nowhere." we are pushing that out and

excited about the life that it's having, since we debuted at sundance. the fact that it's touching people and changing things, i'm really excited about that right now. i think it's really been a beautiful journey, the good and the bad. it's all gotten me to where i am right now, which is a place that feels really beautiful and supportive and comfortable and fulfilled. >> soledad o'brien is going to examine provocative questions about skin color, discrimination and race in her documentary "who is black in america?" the documentary premiers this sunday december 9th, and trust me, that's one of the best people in the business. you must tune in. layaway's back, right? yep, you can pay a little at a time.

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you're looking at live pictures from the indiana republican state republican party headquarters. you see all those mics on that podium? there are a lot of people waiting for some pretty important comments about to come our way. comments from richard mourdock, the senate candidate in that state, who is facing a lot of trouble right now after making some comments in a debate, a question about abortion and his stance. and he suggested he is against abortion, even in the case of rape. because in -- and i'm going to paraphrase his words, which is a dangerous thing, because he is very specific about what he meant by his words. but essentially that the pregnancy that could ensue from a rape, the pregnancy is god's will. it came off sounding as though the rape and the pregnancy were god's will. he was trying to clarify that with his statement, but now he is going to make a public

appearance. and dana bash, you have some breaking information, your sources are telling you there is a reason that he's coming out. it's not him alone who made this decision to come out and make an apology. >> well, he's definitely clearly getting pressured to clear this up fast from the highest levels, because this is a problem when you look at the narrative that mitt romney in particular has been trying to push, trying to get women. and mitt romney doesn't agree with him when it comes to the whole idea of abortion. he does believe there should be exception for rape, incest and the life of a mother. one of the most prominent figures in republican state politics in indiana, mike pence, currently running for governor, he's like 12 points up, at least. he this morning publicly called for mourdock to come out and to apologize for these comments. it's probably not too hard to make a leap to say that is why he is coming out. but we'll have to see if those words come out of his mouth. >> very quickly, after the dust storm began to blow, he came out

with his clarification statement, saying, of course, rape is horrible. those words were twisted, that's not what i meant. i meant that any life is god's will. but you know, you and i do this all the time. we talk about these statements made, people try to clarify them, but the optics are out there, the bigger story gets out there. and not everybody has all of the time for all of the detail. so it can be damaging, no matter what. >> it could be damaging, and the question is for whom. you know, the people -- the candidate that everybody cares the most about is the guy at the top of the ticket, mitt romney. and he's not in trouble in indiana. he's doing fine in indiana, which is why he actually was the one who cut the ad for mourdock. his support helps mourdock, as opposed to vice versa, which is what you're seeing around the country. he needs to worry about the swing states, he needs to worry about the moms and women who don't necessarily agree with this issue. when it comes to indiana, it's not as clear-cut. it is a very conservative state. the democrat running against mourdock -- >> is very pro life. >> is a conservative democrat.

he does believe in exceptions for rape and so forth. >> rape, incest and the life of a mother. >> but this isn't necessarily -- we're in manhattan and people in manhattan would be more likely to be completely turned off by this, not necessarily so for the most part. but the fact that he's -- that he's -- >> he's going to come out, yeah. and that your sources tell you, it was mike pence, the candidate for governor, who said get your butt out there. and say something. >> he said publicly, yeah. >> yeah. okay. stand by, because he was going to show up about eight minutes ago, so we're on the live beat waiting for that news conference. dana bash, i have another one of our favorite colleagues waiting in the wings, as well. if president obama seems comfortable as the underdog right now, and i don't know if that's your perception, it's definitely some people's perception, it might be because he has had some success and experience as an underdog before. if you remember, he came from behind to defeat hillary clinton for the nomination back in '08 and then when he took on war

hero and senate veteran john mccain, worked out well for hip. despite a solid debate performance, he seems to be playing to some the underdog once again. president is making stop after stop across the country, pushing his supporters to vote early, and vote like it's 2008 all over again. mr. romney, on the other hand, is touting himself as the front runner, ready to lead presidential, just like in the republican primary. might be two different ways of going about things, but just listen to the tone that the two candidates took yesterday. >> in a world of new threats, and profound challenges, america needs leadership that is strong, and is steady. governor romney's foreign policy has been wrong and reckless. last night, he was all over the map. >> we've gone through four debates now. we've gone through four debates with the vice presidential

debates and my debates and we haven't matter an agenda from the president. and that's why our campaign is full speed ahead. >> the latest abc washington post poll taken just before the debate does show romney with a slight edge. governor romney with a slight edge. though still well within the margin of error. we're joined now by my colleague, wolf blitzer, live in washington. wolf, this was a reporter's analysis done by one of our reporter colleagues, phil rucker, from "the washington post." is it fair to say that it appears in some of the campaigning that the president is doing that he's coming off as the underdog? or is that just the analysis? actually, wolf, hold your thought for a moment. that live event we're waiting for in indiana, richard mourdock is speaking. >> i want to talk about the remarks of last night, and i appreciate you gathering. you know, in the debate during last evening, i made a comment that i made, quite honestly, from the deepest roots and the greatest base of my faith.

which is to say, that i believe life is precious. i believe that to the marrow of my bones. i believe that life itself is the greatest gift that god can give us. and i know, because polling shows it. at least 80% of all americans and i'm sure at least that many hoosiers think that god is the author of all life. and i stand firmly on that belief. point number two. i absolutely abhor violence. i abhor any kind of sexual violence. i abhor rape. and i am absolutely confident, as i stand here, that the god that i worship abhor's violence, abhor's sexual violence, and abhor's rape. the god that i worship would never, ever want to see evil

done. that is an element of my faith. god doesn't want the evil. but occasionally it happens. sadly, it happens. lastly, as this has unfolded, i've come to understand through my faith over many, many years, humility is an important part of faith. i'm a much more humble person this morning, because so many people mistook, twisted, came to misunderstand the points that i was trying to make. and is if, because of the lack of clarity in my words, that they came away with an impression other than those that i stated a moment ago, that life is precious and that i abhor violence and i'm confident god abhors violence and rape, if they came away with any impression other than that, i truly regret it. i apologize if they came away, and i have certainly been humbled by the fact that so many people think that that somehow

was an interpretation. so lastly, i would say that for those who want to kind of twist the comments and to use them for partisan political gain, you know, i think that's what's wrong with washington these days. you know, i spoke from my heart, i spoke with my principle, i spoke from my faith. and if others wish to try to turn those words and somehow use them against me, again, that's what's wrong with washington today. it is win at any cost. let's make up issues when we can't find real ones. let's twist, let's distort, let's deceive. and i think that's a side of the process. we're moving on from this. i'm confident that hoosier voters are going to be moving on and be supporting us in big numbers in just 13 days. but facts are facts. as i said, the comments were made, the comments have been misunderstood. i spoke from my heart, i know what i believe. i believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs in that area. as i started my comments last night about this.

you know, i said, i respect people who have differences of opinion, because these are tough issues. but i'm not running for the united states senate because i want to avoid tough issues. or take difficult stands. that's why i stand before all of you right now and clarify this. because i think it's very important that all of you understand what i said, what i intended and just one last comment, if i haven't used the word last three times here as i think of other things. but anyone who views, who goes to the videotape and views that, understands fully what i meant. i really believe that. if they watch that video out there, i understand on several websites, i think the meaning will be quite clear. [ inaudible question ] if god intends for the life that results from a rape, can you say that god didn't intend for the rape? >> that i will say unequivocally, jim. i don't think god wants rape. i don't think he wants that at all. because rape is evil. i abhor evil. i want to assure every woman in the -- excuse me. i want to assure every woman who

hears this, who reads the stories of this, that i abhor it, and i'm confident god abhors it. but to twist and suggest that somehow i was saying god approves of rape is the wrong thing, because it's not what i intended. and, again, if anyone came away with that, i apologize they were able to make that interpretation from my less than fully articulate use of words. >> well, i'm asking -- >> so you're hearing the live news conference, an apology from the gop senate candidate, richard mourdock in indiana, trying to clarify the record what he said when he said he does not support abortion in the case of rape. because that life that resulted was god's will. he is trying to clarify, he is not saying that the rape was god's will clarification or not, he did say humility is an important part of my faith. my words were mistaken, twisted, regret and apologize if i

was misunderstood. he also says, for those who twist my words and use them against me, that's wrong with washington. let me bring in my colleague, wolf blitzer. wolf, i understand what he is saying. there is still the critical element, though, of this belief, and there is the more critical element, some would argue, of the optics of what's being said. apology or clarification or not, these are painful words for a lot of people. >> yeah. and it's obviously going to be a huge issue, not only in indiana, i suspect, but nationally, especially given the aftermath of what happened in missouri with the republican candidate, todd akin's comments about so-called, quote, legitimate rape and now this comment. it's obviously going to be a source of discussion for people who are really concerned about where this country is moving on roe vs. wade, for example, on contraception, on exceptions for abortion, for abortion rights for women, whether it's rape, incest, the life of the mother.

and you saw how quickly mitt romney disassociated himself from mourdock when these words came out last night. it's a sensitive subject. as far as the political fallout in indiana, he's running for the senate, he beat richard lugar, long-time senator from indiana in that republican primary. but he's got a tough race ahead of him in 13 days, and it's unclear who is going to win in indiana. i think it's pretty clear that mitt romney is going to carry indiana. i don't think there is much doubt about that. but the political fallout could be significant for people who are really concerned about this whole issue of abortion rights for women, the future of abortion rights for women. and if you look at that recent gallup poll, that's a big issue for a lot of women out there. >> you mentioned todd akin and his legitimate rape comments and how a woman has somehow an ability to reject the pregnancy from a rapist, and that controversy. there is also joe walsh in illinois who said that modern science means there is virtual flee death during childbirth. that's not true.

it's simply stated as fact by our leading scientific community that 600 women die every year in childbirth, and now this. and wolf, i want to just turn away from you for a moment, only because our dana bash, chief congressional correspondent, has been finding breaking news, as well. your sources telling you that when wolf says that mitt romney is distancing himself from mr. mourdock, not entirely. >> not entirely. i was just told he is not going to pull his support from mourdock. he supports him as a candidate. he cut a television ad airing in indiana right now. one of the things that democrats have been doing to stoke this, they have been calling on romney to ask mourdock campaign to pull that from television, and the romney campaign is saying no, they're not going to do that. >> so we showed that ad at the beginning of this newscast. mr. mourdock campaigning alongside mitt romney, and him suggesting this is the man i want in washington. >> and it's straight to camera. romney is speaking straight to camera saying that he supports him.

they're not pulling the ad. they are trying to make clear, though, as we have discussed earlier in the hour, that romney does not support his position, mourdock's position, on abortion. in fact, he hasn't, you know, at all in the past, and doesn't right now. >> everywhere else -- >> supports him as a candidate, but disagrees with him on this particular issue. >> i don't know if there is anybody to be made from this, wolf. could you quickly, and i literally have ten seconds left. -- i've lost wolf. quickly, dana, he was standing alone at the wife. no family. no other republicans. >> i think this is the kind of press conference that a campaign wants somebody to go out there and do lean. >> dana bash, excellent work. live on the air. black bear. we're back right after this.

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>> stripped of his seven tour de france wins for dope, abed by his sponsors and his reputation destroyed, life for lance armstrong, if you can believe it, might just be about to get even worse. all of those tour wins, well, they made lance millions. almost $4 million in prize money. the tour wants the money back. roughly $50 million has come in in endorsements and speaking fees. those speaking fees have evaporat evaporated. most of the endorsements, if not all soon gone, and then there are the bonuses. big, big bonuses. paid out by the owner of the legendary u.s. postal team. well, the insurance company that underwrote those bonuses actually had to pay them out is not the least bit happy, and

they're saying because armstrong was doping and now officially never even won those races, armstrong should pay all the money back. we are talking about a lot of money. joining me live is jeff tulepson is the counsel for that company that underwrote those bonuses. thanks so much. i have read a bit of material on how he has been responding in these last few days since the announcement was made to pull all of the yellow jerseys, at least the titles, the tour de france titles, from lance armstrong, and i'm wondering -- i am feeling there's some nuanced language in terms of how much action you are prepared to take? are you going to file a lawsuit for all of the money over the years that you have paid out in bonuses to mr. armstrong? >> well, ashleigh, i don't want to necessarily telegraph what the company's legal moves may be, but i can tell you that we've made demand for return of the bonus money paid to

mr. armstrong and his agent, and if they don't comply with that demand, sca is prepared to take all necessary legal actions, including filing a lawsuit, to have those funds returned. >> is that something we might see today? >>. >> they're want willing to wait a long period of time to have mr. armstrong return those funds. it will be in the near future that sca takes those actions. >> when you are talking about money that seems by my math, and correct me if i'm wrong, upwards of the $11 million range, you know, a long time can be a week terms of interest and legal fees. that's why i'm trying to pin you down more in terms of how long are you prepared to wait since that announcement on monday, and you have had now three and a half working days? >> well, i appreciate that. unfortunately, it's not really

proper for me to tell. >> obviously, sca has been working on this for years. we developed the initial evidence that was used to reach their decision. mr. armstrong was just stripped of his titles on monday by the uci. they're going to decide on frid friday. >> about the return of prize money. what we're going to do and when exactly -- >> i appreciate -- i appreciate your candor as far as you can, anyway. i want to throw up a graphic that shows our audience just how much money we're talking about in bonuses. when lance won the fourth tour de france, he was given back in 2002 a $1.5 million bonus. when he won his fifth tour de france win in 2003, it was $3 million, and in 2004 that bonus went up to $5 million, which, by e way, that last bonus, highly

contested and in a negotiation in a mediation it was paid out with interest to the tune of $7.5 million with a big that you'll never reopen that particular $5 million case. does this change the metric on that last one? >> no. the only legal obligation that sca had was to pay bonuses if mr. armstrong was the official winner of the tour de france. we contested during the team period that he may have been the official winner, but he had cheated to get that title, and mr. armstrong argued differently. now there is no dispute. we know he cheated to get those titles, and he is no longer the official winner of the tour de france races in question or any professional races, and, therefore, sca has the legal right to seek those funds back. >> we know that mr. armstrong committed perjury.

he denied that he had err used them. >> we'll see if that has hi affect. i would love to have you back, especially when -- if you do decide to file that action. thanks so much for being with us live from dallas. we appreciate it. that is all the time i have, sadly. sorry. we just cut him off. he'll be back, trust me. thanks for watching. "newsroom international" starts now. i'm just gettin' started. woo! [ male announcer ] shop now and put it on layaway. so, you have more time to pay. walmart.

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