When asked how he would counsel a daughter or granddaughter who had been impregnated by rape, Smith said: “I lived something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. … Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t rape.”
So what was it, wondered the reporter, to which Smith clarified, “Having a baby out of wedlock.”
“That’s similar to rape?” the reporter pursued.
“No, no, no,” said Smith, but then decided to add, “But, well, put yourself in a father’ position. Yes, I mean it is similar.”
When confronted later on his comparison of having a child out of wedlock is similar to having a baby due to rape, he claimed, “I never said that. I didn’t even come close to that.”
“Do I condone rape? Absolutely not,” he said. “I am pro-life, period. … A life is a life, and it needs to be protected.”
His opposition, Senator Casey, declined to comment on this, but he himself opposes abortion as well, making exceptions, however, for rape and incest.
Things look ugly for Smith at this point: his opposition has a 19-point head, but Smith said “It’s a long time until Election Day. A lot can happen between now and then.”