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Pa. Senate candidate compares abortion decisions

Topics: From the Wires,

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania is comparing the decision to abort an unwanted pregnancy resulting from premarital sex to one conceived through rape as he defends his opposition to abortion in all cases.

Republican Tom Smith is challenging Democratic Sen. Bob Casey.

Smith made the remark Monday after being asked how he would argue to keep the baby if a daughter or granddaughter were to become pregnant as a result of rape.

Smith says that his daughter went through “something similar” to rape — in his words, “Having a baby out of wedlock.”

In the Senate race in Missouri, Republican candidate Todd Akin drew condemnation from Democrats and many Republicans when he referred to “legitimate rape” in discussing his stance against abortion in all cases.

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