Mourdock believes firestorm is over

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Democrats announced Thursday that they will spend over a million dollars on an ad replaying Richard Mourdock's controversial comments on rape and abortion.

First Mitt Romney announced he disagreed with Indiana Senate candidate and then the President weighed in. Additionally, Arizona Senator John McCain issued a new statement regarding Mourdock Thursday.

Richard Mourdock started his day Thursday with a fundraiser hosted by South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint. He is trying to get his campaign back on track as the firestorm that was sparked Tuesday night subsides. Mourdock was then the lunchtime speaker at the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club where there was no mention of his controversial comments, not from him and not from the audience.

While John McCain questioned Mourdock to CNN's Anderson Cooper Wednesday night, suggesting his support hung in the balance as he called on Mourdock to say he was wrong and "ask the people to forgive him," McCain issued a statement Thursday morning renewing that support.

It was the President who tried to capitalize on the Mourdock controversy telling talkshow host Jay Leno, "This is exactly why you don't want a bunch of politicians, mostly male, making decisions about women's health care decisions."

Mourdock reacted with an attempt to tie the President to his opponent.

"Well, I'm surprised that the President of the United States is talking about what's happening in the Senate race in Indiana," he said. "I wish he'd come to Indiana to support Mr. Donnelly, we'd be glad to pay for his airfare."

Democrat Joe Donnelly continued his normal campaign routine, too, taking part in a cooking segment on WISH-TV's Indy Style. In an interview afterward he did his part to keep the controversy alive.

"I think it's how this whole campaign has been on his side," said Donnelly. "He's been so extreme on social security, on Medicare, on the actions he took on Chrysler and so it's part of a pattern."

Mourdock believes the firestorm is over and his attitude reflects that. What he won't know until Election Day is just how much damage was done.