Vice President Mike Pence at the Wednesday debate went on the offensive on abortion issues.
Pence, criticizing Harris’s opposition to Amy Coney Barrett as a nominee for the Supreme Court based on the judge’s attitude toward abortion, used the moment to draw a “dramatic contrast” between President Trump’s positions and the Democratic platform on abortion.
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris support taxpayer funding of abortion all the way up to the moment of birth,” he said. “Late-term abortion. They want to increase funding to Planned Parenthood.”
At the same time as he defended his anti-abortion views, Pence said he would not “presume” to guess how Barrett would rule in a theoretical case challenging the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision. Barrett herself has not said how she would rule, stating in the past that it would not be possible to say without an actual case presented.
“We will continue to stand strong for the right to life,” Pence said.
Both Trump and Pence in the past year have hammered Biden and Harris for their positions on abortion, particularly their opposition to the Hyde Amendment, a legislative proviso that bars taxpayer-funded abortions. Trump regularly touts himself as the “most pro-life” president.
Barrett, whose confirmation hearings begin next week, has faced criticism for her personal views, which indicate that she opposes abortion.
