GOP Debate Pivots on Abortion

Republican hopefuls compete for Reagan mantle, attack Roe v. Wade

By Dustin Lushing

Posted May 4, 2007 8:05 AM CDT

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GOP Debate Pivots on Abortion — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, answers a question during the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election at the Ronald Reagan Library, Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Associated Press)

Republicans went straight into the breech during their first debate at the Reagan Library last night, tackling the hot-button issue of abortion. All 10 aspirants supported overturning Roe v. Wade, including Romney and Giuliani, who struggled to distance themselves from embarrassing previous endorsement of abortion rights.

The candidates were also united in enthusiasm for Reagan-style leadership; Reagan's name was invoked 19 times, while President Bush was barely mentioned, the AP reports. The field split on embryonic stem cell research, and three candidates—Brownback, Huckabee and Tancredo—raised their hands when asked who did not believe in evolution.

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