AP/Washington Post Examines Role Of Abortion-Related Issues In Elections

The AP/Washington Post on Friday examined the efforts of groups that oppose abortion rights to "ensure that President Bush's sagging popularity won't harm" midterm re-election campaigns for incumbents who oppose abortion rights. Karen Cross, political director for the National Right to Life Committee, speaking on Friday at the group's annual conference in Nashville, Tenn., said, "It's going to be a difficult year. ... We're going to try to protect our pro-life incumbents and win open seats and defeat pro-abortion candidates or incumbents." According to the AP/Post, some abortion-rights opponents "credit Bush with doing all he can to reshape the federal courts with antiabortion-rights judges." Bush on Friday by recorded video message to NRLC's conference attendees applauded the group for its efforts to ban abortion and cited his own efforts to ban so-called "partial-birth" abortion. "Human life is the gift of creation, and it deserves protection at all its stages," Bush said. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that she expects abortion rights to be a pivotal issue in the midterm elections and that a reaction against Republicans could harm the campaigns of candidates who do not support abortion rights. "We are confident that America's pro-choice majority will go to the polls in November to elect candidates who share their mainstream values," she said (French, AP/Washington Post, 6/23).

South Dakota
Summaries of articles on abortion-related election issues in South Dakota appear below.

• Democrats: The state Democratic Party on Saturday at its convention approved a resolution saying how to vote on a November ballot measure related to upholding the state's ban (HB 1215) on abortion is a matter of individual choice, the AP/Rapid City Journal reports. According to the resolution, state Democratic Party members should thoroughly examine the issue before voting. The party on Sunday also approved a resolution saying that Democrats think that with regard to birth- and death-related issues, the state should respect the "conscience" of individuals, families and doctors. State Rep. Dale Hargens, the House Democratic leader, said the party believes people should be permitted to decide individually on abortion, adding, "We encourage you to vote your conscience" (Kafka, AP/Rapid City Journal, 6/27).
  


• Republicans: The state Republican Party on Friday at its convention approved a resolution urging voters to uphold the abortion ban through the support of the ballot measure, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports. State Delegate Talmadge Ekanger said the state party cannot compromise on abortion rights, adding that the party's stance against abortion rights "is the reason I'm Republican" (Brokaw, AP/Contra Costa Times, 6/23).

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