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NRL News
Pro-Life Victories NARAL recently claimed that it is 15 votes away from having pro-abortion control of the House and six votes away from "putting the Senate in pro-choice hands" with their pro-abortion candidates. This is true. Were that to happen, pro-life legislation would be blocked and President Bush's judicial nominees would have little chance of being confirmed. With that in mind National Right to Life PAC (NRL PAC) has been involved this summer in primaries that determine which candidates will be on the ballot in November. Thus far 33 states have held their primary elections. Most recently, on August 8, two candidates who were supported by NRL PAC won their party's nominations. In Colorado's 5th congressional district, state Senator Doug Lamborn won in a crowded six-way Republican primary. In Michigan's 7th congressional district, pro-life Republican Tim Walberg soundly defeated fellow Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz by a margin of 53% to 47%. Congressman Schwarz understood the importance of pro-lifers. He told the Associated Press, "I look at this election as probably a victory for right to life, anti-abortion, anti-embryonic stem cell groups…" As a result of a summer's worth of primaries there are many head-to-head pro-life/pro-abortion races shaping up for the November 7 general elections. Following are several of these matchups. In Missouri, pro-life Senator Jim Talent (R) is being challenged by pro-abortion state auditor Claire McCaskill (D). McCaskill has the support of EMILY's List, an organization that helps only Democratic women candidates who oppose any limits on abortion. In Minnesota, pro-life Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) and pro-abortion Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) are locked in a fierce battle to succeed pro-abortion Senator Mark Dayton, who retired after one term. Klobuchar is another EMILY's List candidate. In Maryland, pro-life Lt. Governor Michael Steele (R) will face either of two pro-abortion Democrats--Congressman Ben Cardin or former Congressman Kweisi Mfume--to succeed long-time pro-abortion Senator Paul Sarbanes (D) who is retiring. The nominees will be determined during Maryland's primary election on September 12. Pro-life Montana Senator Conrad Burns (R) is being challenged by pro-abortion State Senate President Jon Tester. Tester has been endorsed by NARAL. In Ohio, pro-life Republican Senator Mike DeWine's pro-abortion challenger, Rep. Sherrod Brown, has been endorsed by NARAL. Rep. Brown has a 0% record on life issues during the 109th Congress – even voting against passage of CIANA, a bill that would prohibit transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion to avoid parental involvement. Senator Rick Santorum (R), a true pro-life hero and leader, is facing a strong challenge by Bob Casey (D) in Pennsylvania. Bob Casey has taken a pro-life position on some issues and not on others. Casey has received strong support by pro-abortion senators including New York's Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer. In Texas' 22nd congressional district, Republicans will have to mount a write-in campaign for their nominee to run against Nick Lampson (D), a pro-abortion former Congressman. In Ohio, pro-life Congressman Bob Ney (R) has announced his retirement from the 18th congressional district. The nominee for that seat is yet to be determined. But the primary election season is not over. There are primaries yet to be held in Nevada, Alaska, Wyoming, Florida, Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Washington, Hawaii, and Louisiana. Many, many more races are shaping up for the November general election which we will report on in future issues of NRL News. |