Filed by KOSU News in Politics.
October 19, 2012

As Republican Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois was courting controversy last night by saying during a debate that the “health of the mother” isn’t a reason for an abortion anymore, out in Arizona a Democratic candidate for Senate was stepping in it by telling a male debate moderator that “you’re prettier” than CNN’s Candy Crowley.

BuzzFeed Politics has the video of Richard Carmona getting himself in trouble. It happened when moderator Brahm Resnick, after some tough exchanges, joked that “geez, now I now how Candy Crowley felt.” That, of course, was a reference to the flak Crowley took during Tuesday’s presidential debate.

Carmona reached over and patted Resnik’s arm, while saying “you’re prettier than her.”

Today, BuzzFeed adds, Carmona is apologizing: “I tried to tell a joke to lighten the mood in a debate. I shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry,” Carmona said in the statement.

As Politico says, Carmona’s comment last night likely won’t help him with women voters.

NPR’s Ted Robbins is due on All Things Considered later today with more on the Senate race between Carmona and Republican Rep. Jeff Flake. Watch It’s All Politics for Ted’s reporting. [Copyright 2012 National Public Radio]