Some Republicans and their allies dispute the idea that abortion is a losing issue for the party.
By Caitlin Owens
Senior Policy Reporter
Axios
Abortion is emerging as one of the few policies that divide the 2024 GOP presidential field, with candidates stuck between a base that demands strong anti-abortion positions and growing evidence it’s hurting them at the polls.
The big picture: The presidential contenders’ handling of abortion rights may be getting the most attention, but Republicans across multiple levels of government are warring with one another over the issue.
- So far, there’s neither a winning formula for threading the needle of being sufficiently conservative without alienating too many voters, nor consensus as to what it should look like.
- Some practical-minded Republicans, including former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, argue that pushing policies like a federal ban are pointless when the votes aren’t there in Congress to pass them.
Driving the news: Former Vice President Mike Pence attacked Haley during the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night for not being sufficiently aggressive on the issue.