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Although the issue of abortion rights has not "played a large role" so far in the 2008 presidential election campaign, it "isn't going away," and the candidates soon will have to field more questions on the issue, according to an analysis by the Christian Science Monitor's "Patchwork Nation."

However, when abortion does arise as an issue in the campaign, an analysis from a 2004 Annenberg survey suggests that it might benefit Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) over Republican candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.). According to "Patchwork Nation," although the polling numbers can change given how questions on abortion are worded, the analysis suggests that "after 35 years of debate and discussion, many Americans may be reluctant to further tinker with the nation's abortion laws." The analysis found that a majority of people indicated that they oppose greater restrictions on abortion -- especially in "battleground" counties such as "wealthy suburban enclaves," rapidly growing and diversifying counties and counties with high numbers of service workers --"Patchwork Nation" reports.

Specific positions on abortion rights are "hard to find" for both McCain and Obama, according to "Patchwork Nation." McCain has said that he supports overturning Roe v. Wade and that his Supreme Court nominees would be similar to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, both of whom are "presumed" to oppose Roe, according to "Patchwork Nation." Obama supports abortion rights and opposed the nominations of Roberts and Alito, "Patchwork Nation" reports. On Obama's campaign Web site, his support for Roe is about a third of the way down an issue page devoted to "Women."

The analysis says that McCain has a "twofold" question on abortion: "Will his antiabortion stance hurt him in key counties where the 2008 race looks to be close? And will his lack of enthusiasm in declaring his position hurt voter turnout for him in socially conservative strongholds?" (Chinni, "Patchwork Nation," Christian Science Monitor, 7/29).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women %26 Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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