ELLA, Iowa - Governor George W. Bush of Texas, his conservative credentials under scrutiny four days before the Iowa caucuses, drew a firm line on abortion yesterday, saying he would reject the so-called abortion pill if it were approved by the Food and Drug Administration and dismissing the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade as ''a reach.''
Bush said the 1973 court decision that legalized abortion ''overstepped the constitutional bounds.'' But he refused to say if he would choose a Supreme Court nominee based on the person's views on abortion, instead repeating his vow to nominate judges only on their strict interpretation of the Constitution.
The comments followed a television advertisement by millionaire publisher Steve Forbes accusing Bush of being a ''pro-life pacifist.'' Bush campaign aides insisted that the remarks were nothing new, but they stood out in stark contrast to Bush's recent silence on abortion during speeches, and they fit into a familiar strategy in the waning days before the Iowa caucuses: playing to more conservative voters.
Bush has hardly raised the topic on the campaign trail in recent days, hammering instead on his other pet themes: tax cuts, the military, and restoring dignity to the White House.
But he frequently responds to abortion questions when asked, and yesterday the comments came at a news conference after a speech at Central College here. Seeming reluctant to pursue the issue at first, Bush eventually reiterated how he would handle selecting justices for the Supreme Court.
''I would appoint strict constructionists,'' he said. Asked to clarify that, he said, ''Someone who views the Constitution and strictly uses the Constitution for what it is.''
Of the so-called abortion pill, Bush also clarified his stance. If the FDA were to approve it, he said, ''I would be inclined not to accept that ruling by the FDA.''
On the first day of his presidential term in 1993, President Clinton changed a number of abortion-related policies established by President Bush, George W. Bush's father.
Among Clinton's policy changes was his acceptance of the French-made pharmaceutical, RU-486, that terminates a pregnancy in its earliest days. Since then, the FDA has determined that RU-486 is ''safe and effective.'' But the agency is waiting to formally approve the pill until all manufacturing and labeling details have been determined.
President Bush had refused to act on getting approval for RU-486 and had opposed abortion rights. His wife Barbara, however, has said she does not believe abortion should be a part of the Republican Party plank. News accounts have also reported she supports legalized abortion outright.
George W. Bush would not discuss his mother's position on abortion, nor would he say whether he had discussed the issue with his 18-year-old twin girls. ''I'm not going to talk about my daughters' point of view. They're part of my private life,'' he said.
He offered only one personal glimpse. Asked theoretically how he would advise a female friend who had been raped and become pregnant, Bush said he hoped he ''would be able to evoke enough sympathy'' for her. Asked what he would suggest that she do, Bush replied, ''It's up to her.''
The abortion remarks briefly overshadowed the chief debate of the Republican presidential primary thus far: tax cuts.
Bush and Senator John McCain of Arizona have been sparring for days over each other's tax cut proposals, focusing on a component of McCain's $237 billion plan that would tax some employer benefits, such as transportation. Bush had singled out that part of the plan as harmful, saying it would raise taxes by $40 billion. McCain fiercely objected, saying the amount would be no more than $3.7 billion.
After arguing that particular point for days - and, in Bush's case, releasing a campaign ad about it - Bush yesterday indicated he might be willing to accept that he had been wrong in summarizing the figures.
Bush defended his criticisms of McCain's overall tax plan, however, which is nearly half the size of his own. He also pointed out that his remarks about McCain were based directly on the policy paper the Arizona senator released.
''Evidently he changed his plan,'' Bush said. ''I just wanted to know, John, why? I think the people needed to know exactly what was in the plan.''
Of Bush's detailed attacks, McCain said, ''My eyes glaze over.''
Yvonne Abraham of the Globe Staff contributed to this report from New York.
