After releasing a tepid response to Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) “legitimate rape” comments Sunday night, Mitt Romney joined the chorus of Republicans repudiating Akin Monday morning.
“Rep. Akin comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong,” Romney told National Review. “Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive.”
Romney said he has “an entirely different view” and called on Akin to “correct” his comments.
That’s a much stronger response than the Romney campaign’s first take on Akin. On Sunday night, Romney’s campaign put out a statement distancing themselves from Akin but not directly condemning him.
“Gov. Romney and Rep. Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement,” a Romney campaign spokesperson told reporters Sunday. “A Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”
The new Romney statement follows a number of strong condemnations from Republicans running for Senate.
The policy stance on rape exemptions is a shift for Ryan, who has said in the past he opposes abortion even in the case of rape and incest. Romney, on the other hand, has supported abortion rights in those cases as well as when the mother’s health is at stake.
