Indiana U.S. Senate hopeful Mourdock says GOP will rally around him INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Richard Mourdock, his U.S. Senate campaign in Indiana rattled by his comments on rape and abortion, said Wednesday he expects Republicans to rally around him. Mourdock told the Washington publication Politico he anticipates being knocked hard by Democrats. "They will certainly run, negative crazy TV commercials," he said. They'll change themes. [But] we are at that time of the season, frankly, when I think people are almost tuning them out. ... I don't know if they're going to have much impact. Mourdock cited the importance of the race as a reason Republicans will stick by him. "This race is for the majority [of] the United States Senate," Mourdock said. "I've got a lot of ... calls of encouragement" from Republican leaders. They recognize this race is about more than one comment in one speech, it's about 51 votes ultimately. Mitt Romney distanced himself from the Indiana Republican, with the Republican presidential candidate's spokeswoman saying, "Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock's comments, and they do not reflect his views." President Obama's campaign said Mourdock's remarks reflected "a GOP that is way out of mainstream" and Mourdock's remarks were "outrageous and demeaning to women." Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said women will be concerned about what it could mean if Republicans take control of the Senate and White House. "If [Republicans] have the opportunity to be partners, in the White House and the Senate, then that is something that women should have, and I think will have, concern about as they are going to the voting booth," Psaki said. Mourdock, who ousted longtime Sen. Richard Lugar in Indiana's GOP primary, is running an ad on Indiana television in which Romney endorses him, Politico reported.