He also won because his pro-life stance helped attract conservative Dems who disagreed with the pro-abort policies of their own party.
After all, that is why they are not called Ford Dems. Or Dole Dems.
But Reagan Dems.
And Santorum got his clock cleaned because PA Dems finally got smart enough to run a pro-life Dem against him.
The conservative Democrats voted for Reagan because of ECONOMIC issues. Their putting food on the table was far more important than worrying about an issue that a President had very little control over. You'll notice that Roe vs Wade is still legal. Instead of straight-jacketing Republican presidential candidates, why don't work with your Congresscritter and have him introduce a Constitutional Amendment banning abortion? Funny how you guys always want to take the easy way out, as if the President has a magic wand or something.