Then you must include Ronald Reagan in that group. Because I covered that Campaign. And in every stump speech he gave he emphasized his PRO LIFE stance.
Lots of my fellow media people felt Reagan was making a terrible mistake about being so openly pro life. The Bush people were sure that pro abortion was a good issue for them.
It is interesting to note that by 1988 Bush 41 was Anti Abortion. He figured out that any other postion would cost him the nomination and the presidency.
Reagan told me the media did not understand the voters. That those that were Pro Abortion, did not have that as their main issue. That someone could be anti abortion and still get a lot of the pro abortion voter's votes. But for the Anti Abortion group being pro abortion would cost their votes.
Reagan said in 1980 that no Republican who was pro abortion could get the nomination or be elected President.
That was the first time I voted, and I voted for Reagan BECAUSE he was constantly touting his PROLIFE belief.