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Giuliani defends abortion stance during SC visit

Thursday, April 05, 2007

(South Carolina - WABC, April 5, 2007) -- One question Rudy Giuliani has repeatedly faced this week is his stance on abortion, and whether his pro-choice position -- something that conservatives are not very happy about -- has changed since he was mayor of New York City.

During a Statehouse news conference in South Carolina, Giuliani said, "Ultimately I believe it's an individual right and a woman should make that choice."

"I tell people what I think. I tell them (to) evaluate me as I am and do not expect them to agree with me on everything. I don't agree with me on everything," Giuliani said. "If that's the most important thing, then I'm comfortable with the fact you won't vote for me."

The comments came as South Carolina lawmakers push a measure that would require women seeking abortions to first view ultrasound images of their fetus. If the South Carolina measure is approved, the state would be the first to make such a requirement. Other states require the images be made available to women.

Giuliani said states should make the call on such issues: "The Legislature of South Carolina should make its decision about that." He also said states should make the decision whether to use public money for abortions.

However, Giuliani's campaign aides say that if elected, Giuliani won't seek to change current federal law, which only allows public funding for abortions in the cases of rape and incest or when the mother's life is in jeopardy.

Conservatives and political experts in South Carolina said Giuliani's moderate stance abortion will hamper his ability to win votes here.

"He's toast. ... I think it's going to be really hard for him to overcome this in South Carolina," said Clemson University political scientist Dave Woodard.

While Republicans in South Carolina oppose abortion by degrees -- allowing abortions in certain circumstances, such as a mother's health, rape or incest -- there's little room on public financing, said Oran Smith, executive director of the Palmetto Family Council, an anti-abortion group.

Some Giuliani supporters said the abortion issue doesn't bother them.

"I'm really for the whole package. I feel like I'm comfortable being for him," said Rosemary Byerly.

During a stop in Charleston, Giuliani was mobbed by tourists and supporters as he walked through the city's open air market, where vendors sell sea shells and sweetgrass baskets. We're told Giuliani scrawled his autograph on everything from tourist maps to business cards.

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