The anti-abortion vote in 2020

[Snowboarder_Bo]

The AP has a story today about this and how it could affect Joe Biden’s campaign efforts:

Christian abortion critics urge Dems to change platform

In a letter organized by the anti-abortion group Democrats for Life and set to be sent Friday, the group of Christians calls on the Democratic Party to rescind its platform’s support for ending restrictions on federal funding for abortion. That language was added to the party’s 2016 platform, to the frustration of anti-abortion Democrats. Last year, Joe Biden, the Democrat’s presumptive presidential nominee, shifted his position to back an end to restrictions on government funding for abortion.

Democrats for Life Executive Director Kristen Day said that her group had sent a letter opposing the Democratic platform’s 2016 inclusion of language backing the repeal of limits on federal funding for abortion that drew far fewer signatories. This week’s letter, which includes registered Democrats as well as independents, is “a much bigger effort,” she said.

Day also warned that the addition of another position Biden has backed – codification of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling – would alienate anti-abortion religious voters.

Biden is “a little bit ahead” of where Hillary Clinton was in 2016 in terms of faith-based voter outreach, Day said, but the prospect that the Democratic platform would back codification of Roe “would just massively damage relationships with religious voters who don’t necessarily want to see that.”

“It’s hugely important for the campaign and Vice President Biden to understand the importance of this vote,” Day said of anti-abortion Democrats who may be motivated by their faith. “It shouldn’t be taken for granted.”

Just how big a contingent is this? How many people are single-issue anti-abortion voters in 2020? Is it enough to sway the election? Should the Democratic Party accede to their wishes regarding the party platform?

[Velocity]

I don’t see the pro-life vote having any sway. Especially not in an election where Biden is so far ahead of Trump in the polls that he could flat-out endorse outright infanticide and still win (not that Biden would, but just saying, that’s how big his lead is.) If anything, Biden would lose more votes by turning pro-life than he would by not.

[TriPolar]

I do wish the Democrats would pay some insincere lip service to the anti-abortion crowd just to reduce the contrast, but very few of them the anti-abortion crowd vote for Democrats anyway, and they need to learn to make balanced judgments about who they vote for based on more than one issue. They have no way to justify their concern for life and still vote for Donald Trump.

[BobLibDem]

Those who are anti-abortion and for whom this is their single issue are always going to vote Republican anyway. There is no point in pursuing those voters. I think the best approach is to be in favor of abortions being legal, safe, and rare with contraceptives free for all.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

The article linked in the OP specifically talks about Democratic Party members who are opposed to abortion, including Sen. Klobuchar.

[BobLibDem]

Those are as plentiful as hens’ teeth. If they continue to hold their noses and vote D, great. Otherwise I don’t think their votes will be missed.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@BobLibDem

Those are as plentiful as hens’ teeth.

Cite?

That’s the whole reason I started this thread is to examine whether or not these voters could have any impact. Do you have any stats to back up your opinion?

[anny_m]

@BobLibDem

I think the best approach is to be in favor of abortions being legal, safe, and rare with contraceptives free for all.

I think it’s possible to be pro-choice and believe that an abortion is a tragic event. As BobLibDem said, keep abortion legal and safe and work to minimize the need for them.

I do not understand the anti-abortion people who are also against contraception. It’s a position that’s doomed to failure if the primary objective is to stop abortion. Abstinence is against human nature.

[kanicbird]

@BobLibDem

… the best approach is to be in favor of abortions being legal, safe, and rare …

It’s almost one of those chose any 2 out of those 3 choices situations.