Abortion as a non issue by Michael Barone
http://jewishworldreview.com/michael/barone112206.php3
Some excellent points in that piece. It is true that South Dakota is a very conservative state -- and a very pro-life one according to polling data -- but it still rejected that abortion ban by 12 points. I've seen this type of thing in other states -- where polls indicate pro-life support among voters far in excess to the amount of support that actually manifests as pro-life votes at the polls. I don't know if that means that some pro-choicers lie to pollsters, or to themselves, or what. But it's clear that quite a few people can't seem to bring themselves to "pulling the pro-life trigger" in the voting booth.
At this point, the best that pro-lifers can hope for, IMO, is an overturning of Roe V Wade (an event I would support). Then, they can get some restrictions passed in conservative areas and, perhaps, a few total bans in a handful of states. But they should realize that, even then, most women in this country who want one will be able to get a legal abortion, at just about any point in pregnancy, if they're willing to travel a little. I expect that many states, in reaction to the overturn of Roe, will enact state versions of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would rescind any meager abortion restrictions that happen to be on the books in those states. And considering that the voters of states like California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Maine have recently rejected mainstream pro-life proposals like parental notice, informed consent, and even partial-birth bans, the pro-life dream of convincing the entire country to return to total abortion prohibition looks to be ranking just beneath pigs flying on the list of probability.