My Words are Flat and Harsh

Several of the 2008 candidates have already put out statements regarding today’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision upholding a nationwide ban on what opponents of the procedure call partial-birth abortion. Notice the differences between comments by Senator John McCain, a Republican who has said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest, and Rudolph W. Giuliani, a Republican who has said he is personally anti-abortion but believes women should have the right to receive one. Mitt Romney, a Republican who has sought to persuade social conservatives that his abortion stance is genuine, also released a statement, as did some Democrats.

Read their views about abortion here.

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani defended his record favoring the use of public money for abortions, saying he wouldn't try to undo a Supreme Court ruling allowing the procedures.

"Ultimately I believe it's an individual right and a woman should make that choice," the former New York mayor said during a Statehouse news conference where he picked up three endorsements.

Watch political video of Rudy Giuliani talking about the public funding of abortion.