Miami Herald Examines Abortion-Rights Debate Between Florida Republican Gubernatorial Candidates

The Miami Herald on Friday examined the "battle of the abortion labels" in the campaigns of Florida's Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Attorney General Charlie Crist, both of whom are running for governor in the upcoming Republican primary. Despite both candidates' efforts to "claim the conservative ground" on abortion rights, their previous voting records show that they have "taken positions on both sides of the hotly charged abortion issue," the Herald reports. Gallagher in a 1994 campaign for governor called himself "pro-choice," and Crist in a 1998 U.S. Senate race against former Sen. Bob Graham (D) used 'pro-choice' to describe his own views on abortion rights. Gallagher on Thursday said his "voting record has always been a pro-life voting record," adding that if elected governor he would propose implementing a 24-hour waiting period before a physician can perform an abortion and would "institute proposals that [would] reduce the number of abortions" in Florida. He also said he would support an abortion ban but would not urge the state Legislature to implement one. Crist has said that the state should not interfere in a medical decision and that he does not support a waiting period. He also has said he would sign into law a bill that bans abortion as long as it allows exceptions in cases of rape or incest or if the life of the woman is in danger (Klas, Miami Herald, 8/18).

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