By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-882948.mp3
Dallas – Some anti-abortion groups say Kay Bailey Hutchison has a pro-choice record position on abortion she is trying to cover up. They claim her explanation in a second debate doesn't change that and the issue will cost her valuable republican support.
Political observers believe about 60 percent of the Republican primary vote in Texas will come from social conservatives who oppose abortion.
Anti-abortion activists say the so-called pro-life vote is even bigger.
It poses a problem for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. How can she appeal to that core group of republican voters when she opposes the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the court decision that made abortion legal?
Kyleen Wright, President of the Texans for Life Committee, says she can't.
Wright: She's trying to say, "I support Roe v. Wade but, yes, I am pro-life," and that's a conflict that's too big for the pro-life community to accept.
Wright believes Hutchison knows her record on abortion could cost her on election day, and that's why she's danced around the abortion issue during two January debates.
During the first debate Hutchison avoided a direct answer when asked, "Would you support Roe v. Wade being overturned?"
Hutchison- Jan. 14: I am very comfortable Roe v. Wade is working very well.
Reporter: So, you would not support the overturning of Roe V Wade?
Hutchison: What I'm saying is if it is overturned you are going to have abortion havens.
Reporter: Is there a yes or a no to this?
Hutchison: Look, I'm just telling you why I'm concerned
During the second debate on Friday Hutchison confirmed she did not want the decision overturned.
Hutchison- Jan. 29: No, in this sense Wayne-I am concerned about the consequences of what would happen.
The Senator cited concerns that overturning the ruling could lead to some states allowing any abortion.
Kyleen Wright calls both debate answers dishonest
Wright: I am very troubled by the fact she is working to distort her position on this issue.
Wright says Hutchison's position first became an issue in 1982 when Hutchison's Congressional opponent labeled her "pro-choice" and Hutchison didn't object.
Wright says Hutchison persuaded pro-life groups to support her election to state Treasurer in 1990. Three years later they became angry when they heard her say women should be able to choose abortion up until the time a fetus can live outside the womb.
That was in 1993 when Senate candidate Kay Bailey Hutchison was questioned during a KERA debate.
Reporter-1993: If I was pregnant- 22 weeks pregnant- would you support my right to have an abortion.
Hutchison: Yes.
Reporter: Why?
Hutchison: Because viability is probably in the six month range, the Roe v. Wade range, five months, six months when a baby is a baby and lives. I do not think people should abort live babies. But I do think people should have the choice before that time.
Wright and some other anti- abortion activists believe that's still Hutchison's position.
SMU Professor Cal Jillson: No question it's hurting her and it's been hurting her for 20 years
SMU political science professor Cal Jillson says Hutchison was previously able to overcome her murky position on abortion because she wasn't facing a well-known opponent like Rick Perry who openly opposes Roe v Wade.
Jillson says socially conservative, anti-abortion voters have become more numerous in republican primaries since Hutchison's first election. He says a big voter turnout is now Hutchison's best hope of surviving.
Jillson: Senator Hutchison depends a lot on expanding the republican primary vote and hoping suburban women, many of whom would be pro-choice, even with a lot of restrictions on that choice, end up in the republican primary.
Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups have posted strong attacks against Hutchison on their websites, and they're emailing a web link to the 1993 debate exchange, saying it's proof of where the Senator stands.
The Hutchison campaign has not resonded to questions about the anti-abortion community's claims.