Republican candidates and elected officials are falling over themselves today denouncing U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri for his claim that women cannot become pregnant in a “legitimate rape” situation. In contrast, Representative Steve King passed on an opportunity to pile on during a public appearance in northwest Iowa. Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack’s campaign is doing its best to seize the moment.

In April, King endorsed Akin for the U.S. Senate nomination in Missouri, calling his U.S. House colleague a “patriotic, constitutional conservative.” King and Akin both support so-called “personhood” legislation, which would define life as beginning at conception.

Today Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney denounced Akin’s comments about rape as “inexcusable.” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus called for Akin to drop out of the Senate race against Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. An unnamed source in the National Republican Senatorial Committee threatened to pull the committee’s planned advertising buy in Missouri if Akin stays on the ticket.

In that context, someone asked Steve King in Le Mars today whether he supported Akin’s statement, and whether he regretted endorsing Akin for Senate. Here’s King’s answer:

Excerpt:

I just heard about that on the way in here. I haven’t had an opportunity to go back and see what it is he might have been referring to. I’ve never heard of a medical situation such as is implied or stated with his statement. I wouldn’t be willing to take a public position until such time as I look back into that and see what the facts are. […]

Whether he has misspoken or whether he has a position that we would have trouble agreeing with, I don’t know that.

King went on to say that Akin has three sons who have graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and he asked people to “step back and take a good look” at Akin, his family, and his record.

Vilsack’s campaign sent out a press release and a second e-mail blast today, depicting King as “outside what even mainstream Republicans are saying about this issue.” Excerpt:

Iowans deserve a member of Congress who won’t need to think twice about an outrageous statement like this and someone who knows that rape can result in pregnancy. King said it best during the town hall today – “that’s the best I can do” – but Iowa can do much better.

The firestorm over Akin dovetails with Vilsack’s strategy to contrast her style with King’s attention-getting partisan warfare. Speaking to the Storm Lake Times last week, Vilsack said people in Iowa’s fourth district are looking for “a problem-solver.”

“I don’t intend to be on the national news,” Vilsack said. “If I am, I will be talking about the opportunities here and the issues directly connected to the district.”

Vilsack did not provide any comments for her campaign’s statements about the Akin controversy today. She is pro-choice but generally avoids talking about abortion rights. After her husband’s second term as governor ended, Vilsack took a leadership role with a new non-profit organization focused on preventing unintended pregnancies, rather than linking herself to Planned Parenthood affiliates in Iowa. EMILY’s List, which supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates, endorsed Vilsack for Congress last year, but the issues page of Vilsack’s campaign website says nothing about reproductive rights. Like Vilsack’s stump speeches, the website focuses on policies associated with economic opportunities, particularly in small-town and rural Iowa.

On a related note, the Vilsack campaign sent an e-mail blast over the weekend urging supporters to vote for her in Democracy for America’s latest “grassroots all-stars” competition. The Vilsack campaign tried to win this competition earlier this year without formally applying for Democracy for America’s endorsement, but I noticed that this time, Vilsack provided biographical information and comments on her “DFA values” and “people-powered campaign” for Congress.

Any thoughts about the race in IA-04 are welcome in this thread.

UPDATE: Nothing like a good list-building opportunity. Vilsack’s campaign manager sent out another e-mail blast on Monday, linking to an online petition. The page features the YouTube video of King (posted above) and these questions:

Does Congressman Steve King seriously think that “legitimate rape” victims can’t get pregnant? If he does, I don’t know what kind of doctors he’s been talking to, but we need to set him straight.

Ask Steve King to answer the question: Do you agree with Todd Akin that “legitimate rape” victims can’t get pregnant?

SECOND UPDATE: Speakers involved with a “pro-life” bus tour tried to tie Vilsack to Planned Parenthood during a Sioux City event today.

Jennifer Bowen is the head of Iowa Right to Life. Bowen criticized Democrat congressional candidate Christie Vilsack for her support of Planned Parenthood.

“Because Christie Vilsack for years and years, in lockstep with Planned Parenthood – now Planned Parenthood of the Heartland – in lockstep has had a plan for those unitended and inconvenient pregnancies. And that is not to give them life. That is not to give them the opportunity to live and to breathe and to dream,” Bowen said.

THIRD UPDATE: KMEG-TV, the CBS affiliate in Sioux City, covered this story on August 20. Excerpt from Heather Leigh’s report:

King: “I think this election should be about, how did Todd Akin vote and what did he vote for and what did he stand for and in this case, I’m seeing the same thing, petty personal attacks substituting for strong policy.”

Leigh: King supports the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” It would ban Federal funding of abortions except in cases of forcible rape. Right now, Medicaid also covers abortions for victims of statutory rape or incest – for example, a 12 year old who gets pregnant. Congressman King says he’s not aware of any young victims like that.

King: “Well I just haven’t heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way, and I’d be open to discussion about that subject matter.”

How bizarre for King to act unsure whether statutory rape or incest ever result in pregnancy, just because no one with first-hand experience has discussed the situation with him.

Talking Points Memo received this partial transcript of Leigh’s interview from KMEG News Director Aaron Weiss.

REPORTER: You support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act that would provide federal funding for abortions to a person that has been forcefully raped. But what if someone isn’t forcibly raped and for example, a 12-year-old who gets pregnant? Should she have to bring this baby to term?

KING: Well I just haven’t heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way and I’d be open to hearing discussion about that subject matter. Generally speaking it’s this: that there millions of abortions in this country every year. Millions of them are paid for at least in part by taxpayers. I think it’s immoral for us to compel conscientious objecting taxpayers to fund abortion through the federal government, or any other government for that matter. So that’s my stand. And if there are exceptions there, then bring me those exceptions let’s talk about it. In the meantime it’s wrong for us to compel pro-life people to pay taxes to fund abortion.

FOURTH UPDATE: King’s Congressional campaign released the following statement on August 21.

Rep. Steve King (R-Kiron) today issued the following statement in response to false allegations from liberal Web sites:

“I am the grandfather of four granddaughters and one grandson.  No one has a stronger pro-life record than I do. No one has a stronger record in Congress for punishing rapists than I do.

“I believe sexual assault is a disgusting, violent crime and those who commit these terrible acts should be severely punished to the fullest extent of the law.

“The liberal press and their allies have again twisted my words. I never said, nor do I believe, a woman, including minors, cannot get pregnant from rape, statutory rape or incest. Suggesting otherwise is ridiculous, shameful, disgusting and nothing but an attempt to falsely define who I am.

“I have never heard of and categorically reject the so-called medical theory that launched this controversy.

“The people who promote these vicious attacks are paid to create lies and to assassinate the character of elected officials.”

For the record, no one pays me to publish anything at Bleeding Heartland.

Vilsack said in a statement,

“Tragically, women of all ages are victims of rape. I know there are experts on this issue in law enforcement and in healthcare in his district who would be willing to educate him further about the subject,” Vilsack said. “Policymakers should make it clear that violence against women won’t be tolerated and that women have the right to make healthcare decisions for themselves. From co-sponsoring legislation to redefine rape, to not supporting the Violence Against Women Act because it ‘interferes in the relationship of marriage,’ he shows a pattern of turning his back on issues important to women.”