Republicans are deeply divided over their abortion strategy, with senior officials pushing for restraint, even silence, while Republican activist candidates are pushing for a comprehensive campaign for national bans and tougher penalties.
Why it matters: Republicans’ confidence in convincing victories this fall has been shaken by an expired abortion decision – in part because they know the issue is cheering up their base while rocking many voters.
A senior adviser to Republican leaders in the House of Representatives told Axios that their research shows that in important competitions, voters are not “protected from this type of seismic change.”
- The councilor said lawmakers wanted guidance on how to talk about issues such as abortion in cases of rape or incest – to know that a strong opinion is extremely unpopular.
The initial GOP marching orders, in an NRSC note leaked to Alaios Treene’s Alayna Treene, advised caution and even silence.
- But activist candidates and voters could not care what the establishment wanted – and they see it as a moment to fulfill their lifelong dream of strict abortion bans, with few exceptions, and penalties for abortionists.
What we hear: Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council who has been fighting the issue for 30 years, told me in a telephone interview that there is “some caution about overdoing” among GOP leaders.
- But they promise to help private individuals push America to be “mostly a pro-life nation,” Perkins said.
What to watch: Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman points to the volatile state of Nevada ahead of Senate and governor races. The Republican Party needs voters in the suburbs of the Silver State – but the party’s base is pushing for more restrictions on abortion.
The bottom line … One thing is for sure about modern politics: moderation or restraint is rare – especially in matters of culture, religion or identity. In fact, one truth of modern conservatism is: The more the establishment pushes something, the more the base recedes.
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