Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. walked back comments endorsing a federal abortion ban, a longtime Republican goal virtually no other Democratic politician has embraced.

In an interview with NBC News at the Iowa State Fair over the weekend, Kennedy repeatedly said yes when asked if he would sign a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy if he were elected president.

I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life, Kennedy said. Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child.

Im for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices, Kennedy continued, before adding that at some point states have a right to protect a child once a child becomes viable.

But in an unsigned statement issued by his campaign hours later on Sunday, Kennedys team said he misunderstood the question in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the event, which drew nearly every GOP presidential candidate over the weekend.

Mr. Kennedys position on abortion is that it is always the womans right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion, the statement said.

NBCs Ali Vitali, the reporter who asked him the question, posted the transcript of her interview with the candidate online. Heres the full exchange with Kennedy, in which I ask the questions multiple times to make sure were understanding- even at one point saying I was surprised by the stance.