As it turns out, Paul Ryan hasn’t completely turned his back on his extreme pro-life record.

Following Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” remarks, the Romney campaign issued a statement that confirmed Mitt Romney’s support of abortion ban exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Romney has even called for Akin to step down because of his remarks. 

But on in a radio interview yesterday, Romney’s vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said that he does not believe in legal exceptions to abortion bans in the case of rape or incest, saying, “The method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life”. Ryan continued to reassure voters that his views will not set the policy, and that Romney’s position of banning abortion with exceptions is a far better policy than the status quo.

That may be of little comfort to the millions of women voters who are already wary of the Romney-Ryan stance on reproductive rights. And, like Sarah Palin, it may concern voters that such an extremist view of abortion is just one heartbeat away from the presidency.