Trump and DeSantis may lose anti-abortion group’s support without national ban vow.
The Stakes for Republican Candidates in the Abortion Debate
The primary race for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2024 is heating up, and one issue that has emerged as a potential stumbling block for some candidates is their stance on abortion. The leading contender, former President Donald Trump, along with Governor Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy, have yet to commit to signing a 15-week federal limitation on abortion if elected.
This reluctance could have serious consequences for these candidates, as one of the country’s top anti-abortion groups, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, has made it clear that they will not endorse any candidate who does not support such a measure.
Progress and Evolution
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, E.V. Osment, Vice President of Communications for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed optimism about the potential for progress on this issue. While the current front-runners in the primary race have not yet pledged their support, Osment believes that there has been movement and expects to see further evolution in that direction.
She specifically highlighted Trump’s change in stance on federal involvement in abortion. Earlier this year, Trump stated that the issue should be decided on a state level, which drew criticism from the organization. However, after meeting with the group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Trump clarified his position, acknowledging the federal government’s role in protecting unborn life.
Osment sees this as a significant evolution and believes that there is still time for candidates to make progress on this issue before the Iowa caucuses.
A Compassionate Approach
Osment emphasized that a federal limit on abortion would include exceptions for cases involving the life of the mother, rape, incest, and other circumstances. She also stressed the importance of candidates approaching the issue with compassion.
During the recent Republican National Committee primary debate, Osment was pleased that abortion was discussed and noted that some candidates provided bold answers. She specifically mentioned Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, and Tim Scott for echoing the sentiment that the decision on abortion should be left to the people through elected representatives.
Nikki Haley’s Perspective
While former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has pledged to sign a 15-week limit, she has expressed doubts about its chances of passing in the current Senate. Haley argues that Republicans would need a supermajority to overcome opposition from Democrats. However, Osment disagrees with this perspective, urging candidates to lead on the issue regardless of the current political landscape.
Osment also pushed back on Haley’s focus solely on abortion, pointing out that there are other important core issues for the Republican Party that face similar challenges in Congress.
Changing Views within the Republican Party
Over the years, the Republican Party’s views on abortion have evolved. While in 1975, only 55% believed it should be legal under certain circumstances, by 2023, two-thirds of Republicans supported limiting abortion to certain circumstances. The number of Republicans who believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances has significantly decreased.
A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that 61% of registered Republicans expressed support for a 15-week limitation on abortion.
As the primary race continues, the candidates’ positions on abortion will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the outcome. The pressure to support a 15-week federal limit is mounting, and candidates will need to carefully navigate this issue to secure the endorsement of influential anti-abortion groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Neither Trump’s nor DeSantis’s campaigns provided comment to the Washington Examiner.
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