The first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee Wednesday night brought the topic of abortion to center stage. While Donald Trump declined to attend the debate, the remaining eight presidential hopefuls presented their perspectives. Both former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) maintain that the federal government must establish an absolute minimum to protect the unborn nationwide from unrestrained abortion-on-demand. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) stopped short of endorsing specific national pro-life legislation, but said to Sean Hannity following the debate that if Congress passes a bill to “prevent late term abortions,” he would support it. According to polling, a vast majority of Americans support a 15-week national limit on abortions, which would still allow more than 90% of all abortions. Some of the lower-rated candidates in the debate expressed opposition to any federal role in abortion, which has drawn criticism from some pro-life groups.
