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Abortion-rights groups keep focus on Romney
Rick Santorum's sudden rise, fueled largely by evangelical Republicans, hasn't knocked abortion-rights groups off of their attacks against Mitt Romney.
Santorum has a staunchly conservative record on social issues, and his close second-place finish in Iowa on Tuesday was fueled largely by evangelicals. He won 57 percent of the caucus-goers who said abortion was their top issue, according to a Washington Post poll.
But abortion-rights advocates were quick to attack Romney after the Iowa results were announced.
"He might have scored points with a very narrow segment of voters in one state, but, if Romney becomes the nominee, he will have to start explaining those views to voters in battleground states during the general election," NARAL Pro-Choice America said in a statement. "We will make sure that Romney’s extreme views — and his flip-flops on this issue — are a liability.”
NARAL communications director Ted Miller said the group focused on Romney in part because he was the actual winner. But the group is also concerned that Santorum's popularity with social conservatives could leave the impression that Romney is more moderate on abortion.
NARAL opposes all of the Republican contenders and will continue to attack them as the race moves to New Hampshire, he said.
According to the Washington Post poll, abortion was the top issue for 32 percent of the Iowa Republicans who caucused for Santorum on Tuesday. By comparison, the economy was the top issue for 33 percent of his supporters.
Planned Parenthood also kept its attacks broad on Wednesday.
"The Iowa caucus was a race to see which candidates could go furthest to the right, and Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul were the winners," the organization said. "They are so far out of the mainstream on women’s health they will have difficulty gaining the support of moderate women voters who are key to winning the presidency."
