Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Examines Effect Of Presidential Candidates' Abortion-Rights Positions On Election

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 01 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The issue of abortion in this year's presidential campaign largely has been overshadowed by economic woes and the Iraq war, although some analysts say that the issue could have an effect on swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

G. Terry Madonna, a political scientist and pollster at Franklin & Marshall College, said Roman Catholic voters in Pennsylvania could swing the election but not necessarily because of the abortion issue. Madonna said, "Catholics are not all pro-life. In fact, they are not much different than Protestants on the issue," adding, "There are culturally conservative and culturally liberal Catholics, but they have become swing voters in recent years, which is why they are important politically." However, Madonna added that abortion is "considerably less important to voters this year than the advocates on either side will ever admit. When the economy and war are as important as they are, cultural issues take a back seat." Research has found that there are more abortion-rights supporters than opponents in Pennsylvania, Madonna said.

According to the Tribune-Review, abortion was not considered a major issue in the election until Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who opposes abortion in all cases except to save the life of a pregnant woman, as his vice presidential running mate. Republican strategist Kent Gates said McCain and Palin's opposition to abortion rights could help the ticket win in Pennsylvania. "It's an issue that can certainly motivate the Republican base, as well as conservative Democrats, specifically Catholic voters. In a close election, it could have a huge impact." Maria Vitale, education director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, said, "The pick of Palin truly energized the pro-life movement," adding, "She gave birth to a Down syndrome child, and she's supporting her teenage daughter in her pregnancy. She's walked the pro-life walk."

However, Dan Fee, a Democratic strategist, said that people who vote for or against a candidate based on a single issue, such as abortion rights, typically do not have a significant effect on election outcomes; rather, pocketbook issues do. Fee said, "Truthfully, there a very few single-issue voters," adding, "If you lost your job and are in danger of losing your house, are you going to vote on who is going to fix the economy or on a single wedge issue?" (Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 9/29).

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