Huckabee, McCain, Romney Back Abortion-Ultrasound Bill, Giuliani Hedges 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 2, 2007
Columbia, SC (LifeNews.com) — South Carolina is one of the early primary states in the race for the presidency and local issues sometimes become topics for the candidates to discuss. A proposal in the state legislature to ask women considering an abortion to first view an ultrasound has the support of some of the GOP candidates.
The measure is advancing through the legislature and is expected to eventually get to Gov. Mark Sanford’s desk.
Pro-life groups support it as another method of helping women avoid abortions — as a large percentage of pregnant women who see ultrasounds at pregnancy centers decide to keep their baby.
The Charlotte Observer newspaper interviewed some of the GOP presidential candidates on the bill and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has signed pro-life bills into law as governor in his state, says he backs the idea.
"I’m pro-life and my attitude has always been if we’re going to take a position, take it on the side of preserving life," he said. "Anytime we can help to highlight what an abortion is, that would be a good thing."
Arizona Sen. John McCain says he, too, favors the abortion-ultrasound requirement.
"Given the profound nature of a decision to end the life of an unborn child," he told the newspaper. "I believe the more information that can be provided to a woman struggling with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion, the better."
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney endorsed the measure as well, according to spokeswoman Gail Gitcho.
"Gov. Romney is pro-life," Gitcho told the Observer, adding that "(He) believes that states should be free to place restrictions on abortion, and favors measures that protect the sanctity of life."
But a representative of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani hedged on whether he would support the pro-life bill.
"The ultrasound proposal currently under consideration is a good example of a matter best left to the states to decide," Elliott Bundy said about the pro-abortion mayor’s views.
The newspaper said it couldn’t reach Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback of California Rep. Duncan Hunter, but both are longtime pro-life advocates.
It apparently did not contact other Republican presidential candidates, including pro-life Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who opposes abortion but backs embryonic stem cell research, pro-life ex-Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, pro-life Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas or former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore who backs abortion but also many limits on it.
