Republican candidates grapple with post-Roe positioning on abortion

Abortion has been a losing issue for GOP since end of federal right but Pence, Scott and Hutchinson urged tightening restrictions

Eight Republican presidential hopefuls clashed over the future of abortion access on Wednesday night in the first debate of the 2024 election cycle.

Without the specter of Roe v Wade looming overhead, the candidates faced a new litmus test on abortion: whether or not they support a nationwide ban on the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy.