*Election 2008*

Presidential candidates state their beliefs on abortion

Is a supporter of abortion rights, and has said that he “believes in a woman’s right to choose, but I think it is an extraordinarily difficult issue for America.”

He “hates” abortion, but adds that he “belives in a woman’s right to choose.” One of his core beliefs is a woman’s right to choose. He has donated money to Planned Parenthood.

Clinton says abortion rights are protected by the Constitution but that there is “an opportunity for people of good faith to find common ground in this debate.” She said the government should try to minimize the number of abortion through better sex education and improved access to birth control.

Recently voted against the bill to ban late-term abortions. He said that he did not support the ban because it did not contain a clause to protect the life of a mother. He trusts women to make their own decisions about whether or not to have an abortion.

Has said that abortion “ought to be rare, safe and legal” and that “we ought to be working together on how we reduce the incidence of abortion” rather then continuing to fight about Roe v. Wade.

Has referred to abortion as “a holocaust” and often compares it to slavery. He said Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

Supports overturning Roe v. Wade and banning abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to the life of the mother.

He views the fetus as a “human being with legal rights from the day of conception.” Paul is a former practicing obstetrician/gynecologist, and has said that he never found an abortion “necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.”

Has made ending abortion a top priority. As president, he would support a constitutional amendment making all abortions illegal.

He believes Roe v. Wade was based on “bad law and bad medical science” that could be remedied through the appointment of “good judges.”

Believes that “abortion compromises the sanctity of human life.” He called Roe v. Wade “a scar on the moral and intellectual history of the country.”

Describes himself as firmly “pro-life” although in the beginning of his career he was “pro-choice.”

As govenor of Massachusets, he kept a campaign to “protect a woman’s right to choose” regardless of the fact that he was against abortion.