Final Republican Presidential Primary Debate Produces Little Abortion News 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 12, 2007
Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) — Republican presidential candidates participated in their final debate on Wednesday before voters in Iowa will head to their caucuses in January to begin the 2008 presidential elections. The debate produced little in the way of new information about where the candidates stand on abortion or other pro-life issues.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney once again retold his shift in position from pro-abortion to pro-life in almost identical terms as he’s used in prior debates and stump speeches.
The GOP hopeful almost appeared bored in making the presentation because he’s been asked so many times about it.
"This audience and the whole nation has hear time and time again the fact that I was effectively pro-choice when I ran for office," Romney said. ‘When I became the governor of Massachusetts, the first time a bill came to my desk I simply could not side with taking a life."
"I took the side of life on every issue that related to the sanctity of life," Romney added.
"I’m pro-life and I’m not going to apologize," he concluded. "Ronald Reagan followed the same course as did Henry Hyde and I’m proud to be pro-life."
Rudy Giuliani also responded to the abortion question and reiterated his position in favor of legalized abortions.
"I think I’ve explained my position on abortion which is that I oppose it," he said. "But I believe the government should leave that decision to a woman and her conscience."
"I would like to see limitations on abortion and I’ve brought those about in New York City," the former mayor claimed.
He repeated his contention that "We reduced abortions and we increased adoptions by 135 percent," even though independent political groups have disproved that claim.
Former ambassador Alan Keyes participated in the debate and said he could not support Giuliani because of his pro-abortion position.
He said, "We should not abandon the heritage of the Republican Party as Rudy Giuliani would do. So I would not support him if he were nominated."
Giuliani replied that his pro-abortion views were a "position of conscience" and "in spite of the fact that Alan [Keyes] is not going to vote for me, I’m not going to change."
