Republican Presidential Candidates Discuss Abortion Rights, Other Issues During Debate

Nine candidates for the Republican presidential nomination on Sunday discussed their views on abortion rights and other issues in a televised debate held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, the Washington Post reports (Shear, Washington Post, 8/6). The 90-minute debate -- which aired on ABC's "This Week" and was moderated by the program's host, George Stephanopoulos -- "highlighted differences among the candidates on the issues of health care, abortion" and other global concerns, the New York Times reports. According to the New York Times, Iowa has been "teeming with activity by Republicans" during the past week in preparation for the debate and the upcoming Republican straw poll in Ames, Iowa (Nagourney/Cooper, New York Times, 8/6).

The debate began with an exchange between former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- who has been criticized for changing his views on abortion rights -- and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), the Los Angeles Times reports. Brownback's campaign in recent weeks has left automated phone messages that target Romney's campaign with Iowa Republicans (Braun, Los Angeles Times, 8/6). "Mitt Romney is telling Iowans he is firmly pro-life," the Brownback campaign's phone message says, adding, "Nothing could be further from the truth." The message also notes that Romney's wife, Ann, has "contributed money to Planned Parenthood." Romney spokesperson Tim Albrecht called the phone messages "despicable" and "negative," adding that the campaign "should apologize to Ann Romney and Governor Romney for this personal attack" (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/25).

Brownback defended the calls in the debate, saying, "There's one word that describes that ad, and it's 'truthful.'" Romney said, "I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice." He added, "I've said that time and time again. I changed my position" (New York Times, 8/6). Romney said that he gets "tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than" he has. According to the Washington Times, polls indicate that Romney is the leading Republican presidential candidate (Dinan, Washington Times, 8/6).

In addition, former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson during the debate pledged to "end breast cancer by the year 2015 for all the women in America." He noted that his mother, wife and daughter all have been diagnosed with the disease (Washington Post, 8/6).


ABC News video of the candidates' comments on abortion is available online. Expanded ABC News coverage is available online (ABC News, 8/5).


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