Atlantic Umpire: Does Romney Want South Carolina Republicans To Think He Favors An Immediate Constitutional Ban On Abortion?

But wants a broader audience to think he'd go a little slower?

It's unclear.

Romney, in a direct mail piece he's distributed to South Carolina Republicans, brags he's the: "The only major presidential candidate who supports the Republican Party's pro-life platform: A constitutional amendment banning abortion nationwide."

(The piece was evidently written before Mike Huckabee's rise...)




Last night, Romney said:

"We should overturn Roe v. Wade and return these issues to the states. I would welcome a circumstance where there was such a consensus in this country that said we don't want to have abortion in this country at all period? That would be wonderful. I would be delighted … to sign that bill. but that's not where we are. That's not where America is today. Where America is ready to overturn Roe v. Wade and return to the states that authority."

(And, of course, there's this oldie, but goodie, from Romney's seminal 2005 op-ed on his abortion transformation: "The nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." )

Terry Sullivan, Romney's South Carolina state director, said the mailing accurately described Romney's view.

"There is absolutely no difference what-so-ever. Overturning Roe v. Wade is the first step. Then when there is a chance to get 2/3 or realistically ¾ of the states to ratify a Constitutional Amendment we should do exactly that… as the Governor said. “don't want to have abortion in this country at all period? That would be wonderful. I would be delighted … to sign that bill.”

Says Sullivan: "Governor Romney, If elected, would publicly support an amendment."

And it's true that neither Fred Thompson nor Rudy Giuliani would.