WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall says comments he made on NBC’s Meet the Press last week were misconstrued as him suggesting that embattled U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) should step down from his seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

“My quotes were misreported,” Udall said in a brief interview outside the Capitol Friday morning, where he was to cast his vote on the financial rescue package coming before the House. “I said, in effect, that if I were in Mr. Rangel’s shoes I might step aside. But it’s up to Mr. Rangel. He’s an American hero, he’s an enormous asset to the Congress...”

Rangel, a nineteen-term congressman from New York City, is facing mounting questions over his finances. The Democrat has said he will pay $5,000 in unpaid back taxes on a beach vacation home he owns in the Dominican Republic. Rangel is also facing questions about owning four rent-controlled New York City apartments at below-market rates and using congressional stationary to solicit funds for the construction of an academic center bearing his name.

Republicans have seized Udall’s comments, which he made in a nationally televised debate with Republican opponent Bob Schaffer. The National Republican Congressional Committee, which in recent weeks has called for Democratic candidates across the country to return campaign donations from Rangel, sent out a flurry of press releases challenging Democrats to join what it said was Udall’s call for Rangel to give up his chairmanship.

“I think it would be helpful if Charles Rangel stepped down,” Udall has been quoted as telling Meet the Press moderator Tom Brokaw. “But he’s served the country well. We need his expertise, and I know, whatever happens, Tom, he will do right by the country.”

During the Sunday appearance, Udall encouraged voters to have patience and trust in the ethics process.

“The ethics process is unfolding. Congressman Rangel has called three different times for that to occur,” Udall said, according to the show's transcript. “He’s been forthcoming. I think it’s his decision whether he steps down or not as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.”

Contrary to media reports, Udall said Friday, it was a mistake to read his comments as a call for Rangel to step aside.

“The headlines suggesting I called on him to resign couldn’t have been more wrong. I was saying if I were in his shoes I might step aside as chair of the committee and let the ethics process play out," Udall said. “But we need him. We need him."