Presidential Candidates Who Support Abortion Rights Unlikely To Win GOP Nomination in 2008, Party Strategists Say

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 16 Mar 2005 - 20:00 PDT


Although Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) -- both of whom have been mentioned as possible candidates for president in 2008 -- are "popular" among fellow Republicans despite their support for some abortion rights, their views on the issue could "undermine" their chances of gaining the party's presidential nomination in 2008, the... Washington Times reports (Fagan/Lambro, Washington Times, 3/15). Rice on Friday in an interview with reporters and editors from the Times described herself as "mildly pro-choice" and "kind of libertarian" on abortion issues, adding that she would not want the federal government "forcing its views on one side or the other" (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/14). Rice on Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" said she "will not" run for president in 2008. Republican campaign strategist Bill Dal Col said, "At the end of the day, only the pro-life social conservative will be the nominee in 2008," adding, "We are a pro-life party and will remain so." However, other party strategists said that Rice, who is considered to be "very strong" on national security issues, could win the Republican presidential nomination if she decides to run, despite her views on abortion rights, according to the Times. "It's certainly being discussed, and I think there is concern within the pro-life activist community that there may be a candidate who's not acceptable to them who could emerge as a victor," Cheri Jacobus, a Republican consultant, said. Some Democrats said that the popularity of Republicans who support abortion rights "signals a shift" on the issue, according to the Times. "It should send a signal to the party, if nothing else, that their base wants their party to move to the center on choice," Jano Cabrera, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said. However, Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster and analyst, said that while abortion rights once was a "hot" issue, it has been "muted if not neutered" by other social issues, such as cloning, religious freedom and same-sex marriage, according to the Times (Washington Times, 3/15).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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