Tom Smith Compares Pregnancy From Rape to Having a Baby Out of Wedlock

Todd Akin may have just met his match in Tom Smith, another Republican U.S. Senate candidate who made controversial remarks about rape this week.

Smith, who was ironically trying to distance himself from the Todd Akin legitimate rape controversy, likened pregnancy from rape to any conception outside marriage.

The Pennsylvanian said that while he condemns Akin's comment, he agrees that abortion should be banned without exceptions, including for rape.

Asked how he would handle a daughter or granddaughter getting pregnant as a result of rape, Smith said he had already "lived something similar to that."

Tom Smith Rape Comment

"She chose life, and I commend her for that," he said. "She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to ... she chose the way I thought."

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rape." When a reporter asked Smith to clarify what kind of situation was similar, he said, "Having a baby out of wedlock."

Smith added, "Put yourself in a father's position. Yes, it is similar."

Smith's comment comes at an inconvenient time for Republicans, who've been scrambling to distract voters from the firestorm of controversy over Akin.

The Missouri candidate stated that when it's a "legitimate rape" women rarely get pregnant because "the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down."

Smith, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Bob Casey in the November election, told the media that he does not agree with Akin's remark on rape at all.

"He should have never said anything like that," Smith said, though the GOP official abortion position seems to be largely in line with both of theirs.