Virginia Governor Candidate Kaine Won’t Get Pro-Abortion Support 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 17, 2005
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) — Virginia gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine, the Democratic Lt. Governor, will not receive the support of the state’s leading abortion advocacy group. The Virginia NARAL affiliate says Kaine is not sufficiently strong enough because he favors some small limits on abortion.
Kaine has said he backs legal abortion but would endorse "appropriate and reasonable checks" on it.
Ann O’Hanlon, director of the group, said her organization could not endorse Kaine because he embraces some legislative positions her group opposes, like a ban on partial-birth abortions.
Despite the lack of endorsement, NARAL Virginia said Kaine would be a better alternative than the "extremely anti-choice" Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore, a former attorney general.
Kilgore has long supported pro-life legislation and enjoys the backing of pro-life groups. National Right to Life endorsed Kilgore in June because of his history championing pro-life legislation.
"The endorsement reflects our appreciation for the strong stand Jerry Kilgore has taken on behalf of those members of our human family who are least able to protect themselves," NRLC political director Carol Tobias said.
"He has stood in defense of both unborn children and the medically disabled whose lives are threatened by abortion or euthanasia," she added.
During a July debate, Kaine defended his views in favor of abortion.
"What we don’t need to do in Virginia is criminalize the health care decisions of women and their doctors," he said.
A July Mason-Dixon poll found Kilgore and Kaine locked in a dead head with Kaine having the backing of 38 percent and Kilgore enjoying the support of 37 percent.
As Virginia’s attorney general, Kilgore promoted legislation to protect pregnant women and their unborn children who are victims of violence. Criminals who attack a pregnant woman and kill or injure her baby can be charged with two crimes under the law.
Kilgore also staunchly defended a state law banning partial-birth abortions.
Republican State Sen. Russ Potts is also running in the gubernatorial contest, as an independent. Potts favors abortion and has frequently held up pro-life legislation in the state Senate
In the July poll, 9 percent backed Potts and 16 percent were undecided.
