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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 2 February 2023
Abortion foes: 2024 GOP hopefuls must back federal limits

Pence and former Secre-
tary of State Mike Pompeo,
both of whom are evan-
gelical Christians with long-
held anti-abortion stances.
Pence has spent months
visiting so-called crisis preg-
nancy centers that counsel
women against abortions.
And he has embarked on
a tour of megachurches,
including Jeffress' First Bap-
tist Church in Dallas, and
spoken before major anti-
abortion groups.
His advocacy group, Ad-
vancing American Free-
dom, has pushed for Con-
gress to pass legislation
including a national abor-
tion ban beginning around
six weeks of pregnancy
and a bill that would es-
tablish legal personhood
at conception. Marc Short,
Pence's former chief of staff
and longtime adviser, said
that when it comes to de-
clared and potential 2024
candidates, "I see him as
the most comfortable ex-
Abortion-rights protesters project messages to a building during an event sponsored by Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America at the
National Building Museum, Sept. 13, 2022, in Washington. plaining his pro-life con-
Associated Press victions and the basis for
them."
Continued from Front ed people will see head- stressed that objecting to raised over $60 million for For Pence, he said, the is-
lines "over and over again" exceptions for rape, incest 2020 campaigns along sue is about much more
Voters protected abortion about pregnant children and the life of the mother with its affiliated super PAC, than politics.
rights via ballot measures forced to travel out of state makes it "much harder to is talking with each poten- "Mike does it because this
in six states in 2022, includ- for abortions or people un- win elections." He has criti- tial candidate, Cannon is core to the reason that
ing Kansas, a state former able to get proper miscar- cized evangelical leaders said. While records are be- he ran for office and won
President Donald Trump riage care because doc- who have been slow to ing discussed, what matters for the first time. It's always
twice won by double-dig- tors are afraid of liability. endorse his latest run, blast- in 2024 is what policies the been for him a top issue
it margins. AP VoteCast, Pressure from the anti-abor- ing decisions by pastors like candidates prioritize when and it's a priority," he said.
a survey of the midterm tion movement has put Robert Jeffress to wait to they announce their bids. Former South Carolina Gov.
electorate, showed the Su- Trump, who announced his assess the rest of the field SBA's specific request is to Nikki Haley, who was U.S.
preme Court's decision was third run for the presidency as "a sign of disloyalty." support "at a minimum" a ambassador to the United
broadly unpopular. About last year, in perhaps the Cannon called the notion "heartbeat bill" or "pain-ca- Nations under Trump, is an-
6 in 10 said they were an- most complicated position. that opposing abortion pable" bill, he said. other potential candidate
gry or dissatisfied by it, and He is arguably more respon- hurt the GOP last year "ab- The heartbeat bill would who signed abortion prohi-
roughly the same percent- sible for the overturning of solutely absurd," pointing make abortion illegal after bitions into law in her state.
age said they favor a law Roe than anyone else, hav- to candidates like Florida cardiac activity is detect- The 2016 law bans abortion
guaranteeing access to le- ing appointed three anti- Gov. Ron DeSantis — a top ed, which occurs at roughly at 20 weeks of pregnancy
gal abortion nationwide. abortion Supreme Court potential GOP presidential six weeks of pregnancy — and includes an exception
Supporters of abortion justices who backed last candidate — who easily before some women know if the mother's life is in jeop-
rights say the issue was year's ruling. But he has also won reelection. DeSantis they're pregnant. Legisla- ardy but not for cases of
a "game changer" that made clear that he be- signed into law last year a tion that references the rape or incest.
helped Democrats last lieves pushing any further ban on abortion after 15 fetus feeling pain, such as After the Supreme Court's
year and that will motivate will hurt Republicans, and weeks of pregnancy. a measure introduced last decision, Haley said states,
voters even more in 2024, he accused anti-abortion The Republican candidates year by Sen. Lindsey Gra- and not "unelected justic-
after two years of seeing leaders of failing to do who got "clobbered," Can- ham, R-S.C., would ban the es," should control abortion
the effects of restrictions. enough to help GOP can- non said, were those who procedure at around 15 policy. That position puts
"We're in a nation where 18 didates in the midterms. tried to avoid the topic. weeks. Graham's bill didn't her at odds with SBA and
states have no access to "I just didn't see them fight- "What you have to do is ar- advance in the Democrat- other anti-abortion groups.
abortion, and that number ing during this last election, gue for protections that the ic-controlled chamber, Others see abortion as a
is not going down. It's go- fighting for victory," Trump American people see as and even some fellow Re- potential vulnerability for
ing to go up as additional said in an interview with reasonable versus the ex- publicans distanced them- DeSantis. A spokesperson
court cases get decided," David Brody, a longtime tremism of no exceptions, selves from it ahead of the for South Dakota Gov. Kristi
said Jenny Lawson, vice commentator for the Chris- even late-term abortion," midterms. Noem, who is also exploring
president of organizing and tian Broadcasting Network. Cannon said. "And if you Trump's stance has pro- a potential run, recently un-
engagement campaigns Trump, who described him- do that, it's a winning com- vided an opening on the loaded on DeSantis, ques-
at Planned Parenthood self as "very pro-choice" bination." right for potential rivals like tioning where he stands on
Action Fund. She predict- before entering politics, SBA Pro-Life America, which former Vice President Mike the issue.q