Va. U.S. Senate Candidate Warner Says He Would Not Impose 'Single Litmus Test' On Supreme Court Nominees

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 28 Jul 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat, after a recent debate said that there would be "no single litmus test issue" when deciding whether he would vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee, the Washington Post reports. Warner, who supports abortion rights, said, "I don't think there should be any single litmus test issue, but I do believe that my reading of the Constitution is there is a right to privacy, and I would look at the judge's or justice's overall record." He added that he thinks the Roe v. Wade decision was based on the right to privacy but that a Supreme Court nominee's view on the issue would not be enough to disqualify him or her from nomination (Craig, Washington Post, 7/24).

Warner is running against former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore (R) for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. John Warner (R). Gilmore opposes abortion rights after the eighth week of pregnancy (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/3).

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