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.- Despite his pro-life stand, Senator John McCain is now the favored candidate of the Republicans for Choice Action Committee following Rudy Giuliani’s exit from the presidential race, Cybercast News Service reports.
The Republicans for Choice group supports Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. They also advocate removing the Human Life Amendment from the Republican Party platform.
"[McCain] is [pro-life], but it's not at the top of his agenda, not like Huckabee or the born-again Romney," said Republicans for Choice founder and Chairwoman Ann E.W. Stone to Cybercast News Service. "He's shown his willingness to reach across the party, and we look forward to those discussions."
Colleen Parro, executive director of the Republican National Coalition for Life, responded to the group’s endorsement.
"My first thought was how embarrassing for the pro-lifers who have signed on for McCain," Parro said, according to Cybercast News Service.
Another group, the Republican Majority for Choice, has not endorsed any Republican presidential candidate.
"We only endorse pro-choice Republicans," Jennifer Stockman, co-chairwoman of the Republican Majority for Choice, told Cybercast News Service. She said that an endorsement from an abortion rights group might not be welcome in a campaign whose candidates are trying to prove their conservatism.
"Our endorsement, quite frankly, wouldn't help anyone in the primary," Stockman said.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the only openly pro-abortion Republican candidate for president. He withdrew his candidacy in January.
A pro-life Democrat group, Democrats for Life of America, is not endorsing any of its party’s presidential candidates. It also did not endorse a candidate in the 2004 election.
"None of the candidates fit our criteria," Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, told Cybercast News Service. "If we were to endorse Obama or Clinton, it would ruin our credibility.
"We are focused on the pro-life Democrats who are running for Congress, the U.S. Senate and in local races across the country."
