Romney and Abortion -- A Family Political Problem?

Whether you're participating in Michigan's Republican presidential primary or not (and we hope you're not), you're apt to hear a lot about it in the next week.

In the wake of John McCain's repeat win in New Hampshire on Tuesday, national pundits suggested Michigan would be a battleground between McCain (who won here in 2000) and Mitt Romney, who is a native of Michigan. Local media on Wednesday (January 9, 2008) did the same.

But neither state nor national commentators are yet paying enough attention to the role of abortion in the Republican race in Michigan. They both suggest that Mike Huckabee will be somewhere behind McCain and Romney, but that may understate his strength because of his opposition to abortion.

Take a look at what the far-right is saying about the GOP candidates on abortion:

The ProLife Federation of Michigan gives Romney an "E" on the issue of opposing abortion. McCain gets a "B+." Huckabee gets an "A."

Another group, Michigan Chooses Life PAC, endorsed Huckabee in December.

But the 600-pound guerilla in Michigan's anti-abortion arena is Right to Life of Michigan. It has yet to make an endorsement, but it lists the GOP candidates' positions on abortion here. I doubt few right-to-lifers will find Romney's answer satisfying -- there's nothing about the "sanctity of life" (pre-born life, that is) and only a legalistic answer. Huckabee sounds the right note for these people. Even without an endorsement, word will get around in those circles.

So Huckabee likely will do well in Michigan and it will come as a great surprise to everybody who will go on and on about Huckabee's populism being so appealing. It won't be populism that drives any success he has in Michigan -- it will be far-right opposition to abortion.

This whole thing about Romney and abortion reminds me of the problems his former sister-in-law -- Ronna Romney, former wife of Scott Romney -- had when she ran for U.S. Senate in Michigan in 1996. Although she insisted she was opposed to abortion, there were persistent rumors about her previous support for abortion rights.

When Mitt was attacked as a flip-flopper on abortion a few years ago, Ronna rose to his defense.

Is flip-flopping on abortion a family thing with these Romneys?