It’s not “RINOs”.
First trimester abortion is as popular with real Republicans as it is with everyone else.
I've long thought this was true and posted as much here over the years, only to be dismissed as a liberal disruptor.
Truth is, Roe V. Wade was a useful foil for Republicans. It allowed GOP politicians to placate their base by supporting extreme anti-abortion measures that they knew wouldn't stand up to a RvW court challenge. It allowed more moderate Republican voters to also support these candidates for the same reason. "I don't agree with him on abortion but that's ok. The laws being proposed won't stand up."
And it allowed Republican voters in general to pay lip service to the pro-life cause even if they didn't feel that way in their hearts. "OF COURSE I'M PRO-LIFE! (Thank God for Roe v. Wade).
Now Roe is history and there's going to need to be some measure of compromise in the works on the issue until a massive change in hearts and minds can be accomplished.
Kansas yesterday demonstrated this very clearly.
One thing though that needs to be mentioned is while abortion in the first trimester enjoys a plurality of support, abortion in the second and third trimester does not. The Democrats' position of "Abortion at any time for any reason" is just as politically unpopular as a total ban is and they should be forced to defend this position, not given a pass on it.