By Carol Long
NRL PAC Director
Again demonstrating the bi-partisan nature of the pro-life coalition, pro-life
Illinois state Senator Peter Fitzgerald withstood a stiff pro-abortion challenge
to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by pro-abortion
Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun, while pro-life Rep. Glenn Poshard won the
Democratic primary for governor March 17. In both primaries abortion was
a highly visible and significant issue.
Fitzgerald's hard-fought 52%-48% win over pro-abortion state Comptroller
Loleta Didrickson sets the stage for what will clearly be one of the most
hotly contested, competitive Senate races in the country. Poshard, first
elected to Congress is 1988, won his party's nomination for governor in
a four-way primary. He will face Illinois Secretary of State Republican
George Ryan in the November general election. [Pro-abortion Republican Gov.
Jim Edgar is retiring this year after serving two terms as governor.]
Greatly Underestimated
When Fitzgerald announced early last year that he would seek the nomination
for the U.S. Senate, many Republican party leaders in Illinois, along with
most of the major media, denounced him as being "unelectable"
because of his opposition to abortion.
Based on this false perception rather than reality and experience, Republican
leaders, including pro-abortion Gov. Edgar, convinced themselves that a
pro-abortion woman would be the best candidate to oppose Moseley-Braun and
encouraged Didrickson to get into the race. The truth is, as respected political
analyst Charles Cook told the New York Times, "If Loleta Didrickson
never showed up, Republicans would have been very content with Fitzgerald."
During the campaign Didrickson would not say much about her abortion position,
other than she was "pro-choice" and would support a ban on partial-birth
abortion. However, Didrickson is a former board member of Personal PAC,
a political action committee that helps to elect pro-abortion candidates.
Fitzgerald received strong support from the pro-life community. As a state
senator since 1992, he compiled a strong pro-life voting record and believes
abortion should be legal only if the mother's life is in danger.
Moseley-Braun is unabashedly pro-abortion. Since her 1992 election, Moseley-Braun
has compiled a solid pro-abortion voting record in the Senate, including
three votes to keep partial-birth abortion legal.
Initial surveys point to a nip-and-tuck race. Two recent polls have shown
that Fitzgerald is close to, or nearly tied, in a head-to-head match up
with Moseley-Braun. His strong campaigning skills and pro-life convictions
give pro-lifers a great opportunity to pick up a Senate seat in November.
Pro-Lifer Democrat Wins Gubernatorial Nod
Pro-life Congressman Glenn Poshard, now serving his fifth term, stunned
many by winning a four-way battle to become the Democratic nominee for governor.
In a closely-contested race, he won 38% of the primary vote.
Abortion became one of the major issues in the campaign.
His opponents and the media badgered Poshard at every opportunity because
of his pro-life position. For example, the Chicago chapter of the National
Organization for Women (NOW) organized anti-Poshard pickets throughout the
state.
Prior to his election to Congress, Poshard served two terms in the Illinois
state Senate.
Poshard has a strong pro-life voting record in Congress.
He has comfortably won re-election numerous times, including 1992 when,
because of redistricting, he faced a fellow incumbent congressman.
Yet in spite of Poshard's seven straight election wins, capped by an impressive
win in a crowded primary field, the Chicago Tribune pronounced that
throughout his career, Poshard has been "vulnerable" because he
is "anti-abortion."
Poshard's November opponent will be Republican George Ryan. Ryan, currently
the Secretary of State, had a pro-life voting record while a member of the
Illinois House from 1973-1983.
Mary Bono Elected to Congress
Voters in California's 44th congressional district selected Mary Bono,
widow of the late Republican Congressman Sonny Bono, to serve out the rest
of his term. Sonny Bono was killed in a skiing accident in January. Mary
Bono continued a long string of victories by widows who successfully have
held their late husbands' congressional seats in special elections.
Bono defeated actor Ralph Waite, a staunchly pro-abortion Democrat, 64%
to 29%. Four other candidates garnered 7% of the vote in the March 31 special
election.
Mary Bono believes that abortion should be legal for the first three months
of pregnancy. However, Mrs. Bono has also said she believes that the federal
government should not be involved with abortion and supports the reversal
of Roe v. Wade. She has stated that she will vote against the use
of federal funds to pay for abortions or to fund organizations that perform
or promote abortion.