Abortion

About 23 percent of U.S. pregnancies end in abortion. The abortion rate is now at a two-decade low, due largely to more effective contraception. Here are the positions of the major presidential candidates on abortion.

Bill Bradley
  Bill Bradley (Democrat)
Supports abortion rights. Supports federal financing of abortions for women on Medicaid. Does not consider a pro-life stance a criterion for selecting Supreme Court justices.

Al Gore
  Al Gore (Democrat)
Supports abortion rights. Has said abortion should be made "safe, legal and rare." As a senator, supported federally-funded family planning clinics and pregnancy counseling programs. Supports Medicaid abortion financing despite past statements to the contrary. Does not consider a pro-life stance a criterion for selecting Supreme Court justices.

Gary Bauer
  Gary Bauer (Republican)
Opposes abortion. Supports a human life bill under the 14th Amendment defining unborn children as persons. Supports the outlaw of partial-birth abortions and seeks to prevent U.S. international aid from financing abortions overseas. Has vowed to win a repeal of Roe vs. Wade by appointing pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.  

George W. Bush
  George W. Bush (Republican)
Opposes abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and situations where a mother's life is in danger. Opposes federal funding of abortion. Supports a ban on partial-birth abortions. Favors parental notification laws and efforts to increase adoption. Does not consider a pro-life stance a criterion for selecting Supreme Court justices. Would not make anti-abortion constitutional amendment a priority.

Steve Forbes
  Steve Forbes (Republican)
Opposes abortion. Supports bans on partial-birth and other late-term abortions, as well as abortions committed for the purposes of gender selection and fetal tissue research. Opposes federal funding of abortion. Supports parental notification and consent laws. Has promised to appoint only pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. Favors passage of the Paramount Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, but has said he would not make its passage a priority.

Orrin Hatch
  Orrin Hatch (Republican)
Opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is endangered. Supports bans on late-term abortions. First senator to present Congress with a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting abortion. Does not consider a pro-life stance a criterion for selecting Supreme Court justices.

Alan Keyes
  Alan Keyes (Republican)
Opposed abortion. It should be allowed only as a "collateral and unintended consequence" of saving a woman's life. Has promised to appoint only pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.  

John McCain
  John McCain (Republican)
Opposes abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and situations where a mother's life is in danger. Opposes federal funding of abortion and the use of U.S. aid dollars to finance abortions overseas. Co-sponsored a bill in the Senate banning partial-birth abortions. Supports the recognition of differing views on abortion within the GOP. Does not consider a pro-life stance a criterion for selecting Supreme Court justices.  


  Pat Buchanan (Reform Party)
Opposes abortion. Favors passage of the Human Life Amendment and a bill conferring Constitutional rights of personhood on unborn children. Has vowed to cut funding to members of the "abortion industry," from Planned Parenthood to fetal tissue researchers. Has promised to appoint only pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.  

In the Boston Globe
Campaign coverage of the abortion issue
Both candidates keep quiet on abortion, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 11/1/2000
Barbara is back to show women they can be pro choice and pro Bush, By Ellen Goodman, Globe Columnist, 10/26/2000 -OPINION
For many voters, a choice about choice, By Robert Kuttner, Globe Correspondent, 10/15/2000 -OPINION
Bush woos Catholics on abortion, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 10/9/2000
Rating the debate: Thomas Oliphant, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 10/4/2000 -OPINION
First debate is a clash of words and issues, By Michael Kranish and Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 10/4/2000
Bush, Gore split on abortion pill, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 9/29/2000
Abortion foes see politics in stem-cell study policy, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 8/24/2000
In invocation, Cardinal asks Democratic delegates to fight abortion, Associated Press, 8/14/2000
Bush blueprint gets nod with abortion plank intact, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 8/1/2000
Chipping away at prochoice logic, By Mona Charen, 7/31/2000 -OPINION
Panel rejects change of stance stays firm on antiabortion plank, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 7/29/2000
Abortion stance clouds ticket hopes for Pennsylvanian, By Michael Kranish and Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 7/20/2000
GOP's abortion wrangle begins, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 7/18/2000 -OPINION
Law gives Bush a range of Catholic issues, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 7/13/2000
Evangelicals undergo pragmatic conversion, By David M. Shribman, 7/9/2000 -OPINION
Abortion politics, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 7/4/2000 -OPINION
Bishop bars Gore from campaigning at hospital, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 6/15/2000
2000 election likely to tip court balance, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 6/11/2000
GOP muffles discussion on abortion, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 6/9/2000
Bush hints abortion not a test for ticket, By Glen Johnson, Associated Press, 3/30/2000
Key issues are little examined, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 2/16/2000
Gore gets early NARAL nod, By Susan Milligan and Bob Hohler, Globe Staff, 2/16/2000
Why McCain changed on use of fetal tissue, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 2/13/2000
Gore accused of dodging on abortion, By Susan Milligan and Bob Hohler, Globe Staff, 2/12/2000
S.C. religious right divided as Bush and McCain battle, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 2/11/2000
Antiabortion organization weighs in early for Bush, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 2/9/2000
Gore tries to make abortion point after Bradley wins women voters, By Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press, 2/2/2000
Bradley, Gore step up war of words, By Susan Milligan and Bob Hohler, Globe Staff, 1/31/2000
Forbes has private meeting with Cardinal Law, By Michael Crowley, Globe Staff, 1/29/2000
Gore record scrutinized for veracity, By Walter V. Robinson and Ann Scales, Globe Staff, 1/28/2000
At N.H. school, Keyes target abortion, By Lois R. Shea, Globe Staff, 1/28/2000
Truth Squad: Candidates adrift on abortion, welfare reform, By Calvin Woodward, Associated Press, 1/27/2000
Keyes tells House members to vote their conscience, By Glen Johnson, Associated Press, 1/27/2000
Bush, McCain spar on taxes, education, abortion, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, and Curtis Wilkie, Globe Correspondent, 1/27/2000
Abortion call family matter, says senator, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 1/27/2000
Turning to New Hampshire, abortion remains focus, By Curtis Wilkie, Globe Correspondent, 1/26/2000
McCains worry about pulling daughter into abortion debate, By Laurie Kellman, Associated Press, 1/26/2000
Abortion issue dogs McCain in New Hampshire, By Leslie Gevirtz, Reuters, 1/25/2000
McCain finds following in S.C., By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 1/22/2000
Under fire, Bush breaks silence on abortion, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 1/21/2000
Bush: Supreme Court abortion ruling 'usurped rights of legislatures', By Glen Johnson, Associated Press, 1/21/2000
Forbes airing anti-abortion ad, By Laura Meckler, Associated Press, 1/11/2000
Forbes: First act as president would be to outlaw late-term abortion, Associated Press, 1/8/2000
Abortion rights group airs third ad targeting Bush, By Holly Ramer, Associated Press, 12/1/1999
Voices rise as N.H. race gets tighter, By Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 9/15/1999
Republican candidates play it safe as they take on abortion politics, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 9/5/1999 -OPINION
Rift within GOP is widening over issue of abortion, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 8/28/1999
House OKs bid to curb abortions, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 7/1/1999
Abortion-rights group accuses Dole, Bush of camouflaging views, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 3/22/1999
GOP hopefuls opting for softer abortion stance, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 3/10/1999