Abortion opponents go on offense

But a flip side is giving abortion-rights supporters a turn on the hot seat: How long would they allow a pregnant woman to obtain an abortion, especially when the fetus is developed enough to survive post birth?

That’s the question anti-abortion activists and politicians are trying to push to the forefront in the upcoming election, recently buoyed by Sen. Rand Paul, who announced his candidacy for president April 7. When queried about his stance on abortion earlier this month, the GOP presidential contender said reporters should instead press Democrats to articulate exactly where they would draw the line.

That move won Paul much praise from the anti-abortion crowd, who vowed to keep up the pressure over the next 18 months.

“The presidential candidates this time are showing a level of fearlessness that’s required to break through,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser at the anti-abortion group’s annual gala Thursday night.

SBA List has had marked success over the last few years getting anti-abortion women elected to Congress — its top goal. In 2010, it helped boot from Congress those Democrats who side with them on abortion, yet voted for the Affordable Care Act, which conservatives say allows taxpayer funding for the procedure.

This year, all the potential top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination have endorsed the group’s latest project, a measure banning most abortions midway through pregnancy, premised on the idea that’s when a fetus can start feeling pain.

About a dozen states have passed such measures, and Congress is likely to vote on a federal version. But Republicans also see 20-week bans as a crucial election tool to make Democratic candidates look extreme for opposing them — and a way to stay on the offense, instead of defense.

Republicans should “ask Democrats what good comes from aborting a baby…at 20 weeks,” said Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., who is the bill’s Senate sponsor and a potential presidential contender. He said if they don’t, they’re making a “huge mistake.” “They need to go on the offense,” he told the Washington Examiner.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said he thinks Republicans have hurt themselves in the past on the abortion issue by not pressing Democrats harder, as Paul did.

“I think we, like Socrates, have to ask more questions,” Smith said. “They can’t handle it.”

Republicans are already chalking up one victory on that point. Prompted by Paul’s comments, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has recently said she doesn’t support any abortion restrictions.

“I can’t tell you a specific date and time past which we in all cases are certain that that choice shouldn’t be made, because that decision is very unique and individual to the woman,” she told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly on Wednesday.

Reince Prebius called her position “extreme” at the Thursday gala.

“We all applauded to hear that the chairwoman of the Democratic Party would say on national TV that her party doesn’t believe society has any role at all in protecting the unborn,” he said.

Abortion opponents point to polls showing that a minority of Americans — about three in 10, according to a Gallup poll last year — want abortion legal in all circumstances. About half of Americans favor some restrictions.

Yet most voters — especially swing or “soft Democrat” voters — view Republicans as more extreme on the issue of abortion than Democrats, said Adam Schaeffer of ES Partners, a political research firm that has done testing on how different abortion-related messages play in elections.

“[Voters] are likely to know about the claims of extremism for Republicans, but they’re unlikely to know about it for Democrats,” Schaeffer said.

That’s good news for abortion rights advocates, who hope the perception will remain in their favor. “Forcing GOP hopefuls to talk about their right-wing views on women brings the GOP into dangerous territory,” said Marcy Stech, a spokeswoman for Emily’s List.