Virginia: Pro-Life Cuccinelli to Battle Pro-Abortion McAuliffe

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 28, 2012   |   12:25PM   |   Richmond, VA

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has decided to drop out of next year’s gubernatorial race in Virginia, leaving pro-life Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli with a clear path to the GOP nomination.

As the Washington Post reported:

Bolling announced his decision Wednesday morning in an e-mail that said a switch in the nomination method pulled off by Cuccinelli supporters last summer — from a statewide primary to an “exclusive” party convention — had created “too many obstacles for us to overcome.”

“After a great deal of consideration I have decided to suspend my campaign for the Republican Party’s nomination for Governor of Virginia,” he said in his message. “Needless to say, this was a very difficult decision for me, and I know it will come as a surprise and disappointment to many, but I am confident it is the right decision.”

Last week, Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, announced he would not seek to run for governor again, likely leaving Terry McAuliffe with a clear path to the Democratic nomination.

The two decisions makes it so Virginia residents will have tow clear choices on the issue of abortion between a pro-life Republican and a pro-abortion Democrat.

Cuccinelli issued a statement Wednesday, praising Bolling for his public service.

“I am honored and proud to have served with the Lieutenant Governor over the last decade, in the State Senate, as running mates for statewide office and as leaders of Virginia State Government, it says. “Throughout this race, I have kept to the premise that Bill and I are allies in governance, even if temporary competitors in politics. Bill Bolling is a good man — a true public servant who has worked hard throughout his career to make Virginia a better place to live and raise our families. I cannot speak highly enough of his service.”

“I will honor the Lt. Governor’s service by campaigning for Governor as we both pledged to govern when we were sworn in, in 2010.  I will continue the challenging work of advancing first principles in Virginia’s policy arena by creating an environment for maximizing job creation, preserving life, liberty and opportunity, and working to make Virginia a beacon of hope and prosperity in these tough economic times,” he added.

Cuccinelli is strongly pro-life and helped pave the way for the state health board to finally crack down on abortion centers in Virginia after reports of shocking abuses at abortion facilities — including the remains of aborted unborn babies in freezers and uncleaned blood splattered on operating room tables.

He said in an opinion that the state government can institute the regulations by executive order but McDonnell said he wanted the legislature to put the regulations in place. In his opinion, Cuccinelli provided legal guidance for the state Board of Health and said more limits can be placed on abortion businesses in Virginia when it comes to healthy and safety standards.

The pro-life advocate also drew praise for taking on Obamacare, which funds abortions and prompts concerns about rationing, in court.

“We often forget the most recognized words from our Declaration of Independence,” Cuccinelli has said. “’We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator – their Creator – with certain unalienable Rights, [of] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ And that ‘Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed’. We don’t have any other rights if we don’t have that first one.”

McAuliffe, an abortion advocate who was the national party chair for Democrats, has frequently pushed abortion.

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In July 2004, McAuliffe unveiled a new campaign to be headed up by NARAL president Kate Michelman called the Campaign to Save the Court. The goal of the campaign was to scare up pro-abortion votes for John Kerry by telling voters President Bush would appoint more judges to overturn Roe v. Wade if given another term.

After the Kerry campaign loss, McAuliffe became the head of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and was replaced by pro-abortion former Vermont governor Howard Dean.

In February 2007, the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse canceled a planned speech McAuliffe had prepared because of his abortion views.

McAuliffe was slated to discuss a book he’d written on his involvement in politics at his high school alma mater, Bishop Ludden High School but officials with the Catholic church said the talk would be inappropriate because McAuliffe is a strong abortion supporter.

The diocese cited an interview McAuliffe gave to a nationally syndicated radio program saying he favors abortion “no question about it.”