I have a different take on it. I think they get into trouble because they try to answer the questions honestly. They should be smart enough politicians if they are the candidate to answer along the lines of "Roe v. Wade settled the issue", or "this is such a complicated issue it should be resolved on a case by case basis by those most closely involved".
I think in both cases where we might lose the candidate answered from an intellectually honest and consistent position, but they were dumb answers politically. The end result may be the Rats keeping the Senate and if Romney is elected nothing getting done.
Any candidate who says "Roe v. Wade settled the issue has lost me as a voter. Roe v. Wade must be overturned. That is step one and any candidate who claims that they are in support of that decision or is not willing to fight to get it overturned is not worthy of my vote.
I didn't vote for Romney for President, I voted for Ryan for vice president.