NH Sen. Ayotte cancels event with IN’s Mourdock

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte has canceled her plan to campaign with Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who said that when a woman becomes pregnant during a rape, “that’s something God intended.”

Mourdock backed off that remark Wednesday. But Ayotte’s spokesman, Jeff Grappone, said that the senator disagrees with Mourdock’s comments, which do not represent her views. Ayotte was scheduled to campaign with Mourdock on Wednesday, but canceled her trip and is in New Hampshire instead.

Mourdock’s comment, made at a debate Tuesday night, has pushed the issues of rape and abortion to the forefront. The campaign of Republican Mitt Romney, who appears in a television ad for Mourdock, said the presidential nominee disagrees with Mourdock.