Sen. Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, threw another wrench into the GOP’s hopes to take control of Congress in November by declaring that abortion is “not a states’ rights issue” as he pushes a nationwide ban on abortion, undercutting his party’s messaging heading into November’s midterms.
Appearing on “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning, Graham admitted that his bill that would ban abortions after 15 weeks and claimed the issue should not be left to the states.
“This is not a states’ rights issue. This is a human right issue. So, no matter what California or Maryland will do … I am going to advocate a national minimum standard,” Graham said.
Lindsey Graham on August 7: “I've been consistent. I think states should decide the issue of marriage and states should decide the issue of abortion.”
Lindsey Graham on Sept 20: “This is not a states’ rights issue.” pic.twitter.com/HdVwn9onC4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 20, 2022
Graham’s push on abortion ban comes at a perilous time for the Senate GOP, which is dealing with a barrage of ads on the issue from Democrats, who see it as a political winner a month and a half until the elections.
Republicans are attempting to retake control of the chamber after two years in the minority, but according to an analysis by The Associated Press, Democrats are poised to keep their Senate majority and have spent roughly $124 million on ads centered on abortion — more than twice what the party has invested in any other issue.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen GOP senators have come forward saying that they will oppose Graham’s bill, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who said last week “most of the members of my conference prefer that this be dealt with at the state level.”
Graham also said McConnell was wrong to avoid abortion, saying he refused to stand by as some states adopted permissive abortion laws.
Read it at The Hill.
