Front-running presidential candidate breaks from GOP pro-life plank
Leading Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole has gone public with what many pro-life leaders had quietly suspected.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Dole said he does not support a major plank in the Republican platform- a constitutional amendment banning abortion.
The Senate majority leader said he used to back a stronger law but no longer does. “I think there have to be some exceptions. I think there are other things we can do.”
The statement comes as somewhat of a blow to U.S. ro-life forces who never viewed Dole as a strong pro-life candidate but were hoping that he would not break from the Republican’s pro-life policy.
Dole’s decision to back off makes it clear that he feels his leadership bid is strong enough that he no longer has to court pro-life Republicans.
Dole’s advisers obviously feel that this shift to the centre will pay off down the road during a presidential campaign. However, it could also back-fire and give momentum to the other GOP hopefuls- especially those who distance themselves from Dole’s action.
Dole’s campaign recently received a boost from New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman. Whitman, who has long been an opponent of the Republican’s pro-life lank, gave the Dole campaign her endorsement.
