Marco Rubio Weighs In on GOP Candidate's Controversial Rape Comments

OUTSIDE MILWAUKEE -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio Thursday called the remarks about rape made by Indiana GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock "unfortunate" and said Mourdock made the right move by apologizing.

Mourdock generated a firestorm of controversy after he said the following in a televised debate on Tuesday:

“Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, it is something that God intended to happen."

He apologized Wednesday to those who he believes misinterpreted his comments, but Mourdock, who is the state treasurer in Indiana, did not back down from what he said – meaning, in essense, that no rape is ever God's will, but conception resulting from rape was.

Speaking to reporters after a rally in Waukesha that drew about 800 people, Rubio said of Mourdock's comments:

"It's unfortunate. That's an issue that's very painful, very personal. I can't think of anything more horrifying than a rape that ends in a pregnancy. It's a horrifying thing. It's a reminder of how careful folks need to be when they talk about that issue and how sensitive we need to be to victims.

"I think the candidate, Treasurer Mourdock, was right to apologize to anyone who was offended, and I think he was right to where he stood on it. It's unfortunate it happened."

After initially expressing dismay over Mourdock's comments, several prominent Republicans from around the country began to rally around him on Thursday, the Huffington Post reported.

Among those who changed his tune was Arizona Sen. John McCain, who withdrew his support of Mourdock on Wednesday, but backtracked on Thursday, saying he was satisfied with Mourdock's apology, HuffPo reported.