No major GOP presidential candidate running on 15-week abortion limit after Scott exit

None ​of the major contenders in the 2024 Republican presidential race supports a national abortion restriction other than for late in pregnancy, following the withdrawal of Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on Sunday.

Scott, who began his ⁣presidential campaign in May, was the strongest candidate in support of a national-level ⁢limit on abortion after 15 weeks gestation, the point at which a fetus can feel pain.⁣ The 15-week ​cutoff had been identified by some anti-abortion activists as a viable goal for a national standard ⁤but now has no support among the ‍candidates likely to be‍ the Republican nominee.

REPUBLICANS ⁢NAVIGATE CULTURE WAR SETBACK ON ABORTION

According to the pro-abortion think tank the Guttmacher Institute, 65% of abortions occur within ⁢the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Only approximately 5% of abortions occur after 15 weeks gestation.

Scott’s ‌resignation comes only days after ‍losses for ⁣anti-abortion advocates in the state ⁣legislative races in Virginia and the passage of an expansive abortion rights amendment in ​Ohio.

The junior senator from South Carolina⁤ has backed federal restrictions on abortions, ​including his co-sponsorship of a 20 weeks gestation ban in⁣ 2019, before the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The prominent anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America had previously⁤ commended Scott​ for his support of​ the 15-week ban, saying that he ⁤”offered a‍ clear, bold case for national protections for the unborn.”

SBA declined the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on ‌what Scott’s withdrawal means for the abortion debate heading into the primary election ⁤season.

During Wednesday night’s third Republican ‍debate in Miami, other candidates on the ⁤stage expressed that they agreed with Scott on promoting a “culture of life” but did not support federal legislation on abortion​ or said that passing such measures was not feasible.

Gov. Ron ​DeSantis (R-FL) and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley both signaled that‌ they supported national-level restrictions on late-term‌ abortions​ as well as expanding access to adoption services.

Scott criticized Haley during the ​debate for not supporting the 15-week ban, but the ⁣former governor defended her stance as pragmatic.

“I will‌ sign anything where we can get 60 Senate votes, but don’t make the American people think ⁤that you’re going to push something on them⁣ when we don’t even‍ have the votes in the Senate,” said Haley. “It’s important that we’re honest about that.”

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has also taken the states’ rights approach to the issue of abortion, saying that the variability of states was the main argument against Roe prior to the Dobbs ​v. Jackson Women’s Health ⁣Organization decision in June⁢ 2022.

“In my home ⁤state of New Jersey, [abortion] goes up to nine months. … I find that morally reprehensible, but that⁤ is what the people of our state have voted ‍for,” ⁢said Christie on Wednesday. “And we should not short-circuit that process until ⁣every state’s people have the right to weigh in‌ on it.”

Entrepreneur Vivek ⁢Ramaswamy said that he was upset by the results in his home state of Ohio on Tuesday but that the fight⁣ on abortion has contributed to a “Republican culture of losing.”

The front-runner in the election, former President Donald Trump, has been relatively ​silent on​ abortion except when criticizing the extremity of other candidates, including DeSantis’s ‌enactment of an abortion ban in Florida at six weeks gestation, when fetal cardiac ‍activity⁤ is detectable ⁣via ultrasound.

In an interview with Univision on Thursday, Trump said that his‍ historic ⁣three picks for the Supreme Court were responsible for the overturning of Roe and stressed that exceptions for all abortion limitations, including rape, incest, and life of the⁢ mother, ‍are “very important.”

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On Monday, SBA posted on X, formerly Twitter, a message in⁤ support of Scott, thanking him for his “heroic clarity for life, working to support ⁣mothers and support national 15-week protections that will stop painful late-term​ abortions targeting babies in the womb.”

Democratic National Committee ⁣spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika “thanked” Scott on Monday for reminding voters that “this GOP primary field is the most extreme in history, ⁤hellbent on passing a national abortion ban.”

How does ​the absence ⁢of⁢ a strong supporter of national abortion restrictions, ‍like Scott, impact the⁤ overall abortion debate within the Republican party?

Portant to be⁤ realistic⁣ about what we can accomplish.”

With Scott’s withdrawal,‌ the field of Republican​ candidates for the ‍2024 presidential race now consists ⁢of diverse‍ voices on the abortion issue. While some candidates, like DeSantis and Haley, advocate for restrictions on late-term abortions, others ⁤have ⁤taken a more moderate approach.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) expressed his⁢ support for the overturning ⁤of Roe v. Wade but did not specify his stance on national abortion restrictions. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also remained⁣ silent on the issue.

These differing views among the Republican contenders highlight the complexity of the abortion ⁢debate within the party.⁣ While ⁢many Republicans consider themselves pro-life and aim to protect the​ rights of ‍the unborn, the question of how to ⁢achieve those goals remains a point of contention.

The recent setbacks for anti-abortion ‍advocates in Virginia and Ohio serve as a reminder ⁤that the fight for abortion restrictions is⁣ far from over. As the 2024 Republican primary election approaches, candidates ⁤will need to carefully navigate this complex ‌issue, balancing the desires of their pro-life base with the political reality of passing legislation.

It is yet to be seen how‍ the absence of a strong supporter of national abortion ⁣restrictions, like⁣ Scott, will⁣ impact ‌the overall abortion debate within the Republican party. However, one thing is clear – the contenders for the 2024 Republican presidential race have⁣ varying views on this contentious issue, ⁤and​ the party ⁤will need to find a way‍ to unite behind a common stance in order to appeal to voters.

As ⁤the primary season approaches, ​the Republican candidates will likely face pressure to clarify their positions on abortion, particularly in relation to late-term‌ restrictions. The withdrawal of Scott​ highlights the shifting dynamics of the Republican party on this issue, and it remains ⁤to be seen how this will play out in ‍the upcoming campaign.

Overall, the absence of a major contender supporting ⁤a national abortion restriction other than for ‌late in pregnancy marks a significant shift in⁢ the Republican presidential race. With Scott’s‍ withdrawal, the party must now navigate the complexities of the abortion debate and find a way to present a ‌unified front on this contentious issue. As the primary election approaches, all eyes will be on the Republican candidates and their positions on abortion, as they seek to appeal to their base while also addressing the political challenges of passing restrictive⁣ legislation in a divided country.

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