GOP Senate candidate Richard Mourdock says he can't "unring the bell" on comments he made last week about rape, and he's joining a national Republican effort to shift discussion away from his remarks.

Mourdock also tells reporters he was surprised by the reaction to his remarks after last week's Senate debate and didn't realize he had said anything controversial. Mourdock has clarified what he meant when he said any pregnancy resulting from rape would be God's intent, but hasn't apologized.

Mourdock never mentioned the comments during a campaign stop with supporters Monday. Instead, he told the crowd it's more important to talk about the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya.

Top Republicans hit the Sunday talk show circuit to argue Mourdock's comments aren't an issue in the election.