Campbell Asks GOP Tolerance on Abortion

Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell on Tuesday urged fellow Republicans to seize the moment at the GOP convention to advance an abortion rights agenda.

“The purpose . . . will not be to stir discontent,” the San Jose congressman said in a letter to federal and state lawmakers who support abortion rights.

“Rather, it is my hope that through such dialogues we can rally our forces to keep the pro-choice movement alive and to send a message to the American people that there is a home in the Republican Party for those who support a woman’s right to choose,” Campbell wrote.

Campbell’s gambit was likely to inflame anti-abortion party activists already skeptical of his chances of unseating Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who also supports abortion rights. Indeed, Campbell was booed at the state Republican convention earlier this year when he espoused support for abortion rights. And the upcoming national convention platform includes a hard-line anti-abortion stand.

His approach could score some points with Republicans who are not as conservative. An Associated Press survey released Tuesday shows that 15% of state GOP delegates to the national convention in Philadelphia support the platform’s call for a constitutional amendment banning abortion. Forty-five percent opposed platform language favoring a ban while 15% said they were not sure, according to the AP survey.

In his letter, obtained by The Times, Campbell underscored the diversity of California’s electorate, noting that statewide candidates for office “simply cannot win . . . without the support of pro-choice voters.”

“They are as important to our coalition as any other voting group,” Campbell wrote, warning that to alienate those voters “only improves” the chance of a Democratic victory in November.

In an interview, Campbell acknowledged that the letter may anger some in his party and be viewed by others as a publicity gimmick. But he said many already know his views and would not be surprised by the letter. “And as for the others, I would say there is value in publicity,” Campbell said, “[when] the point is to get the message out that we Republicans tolerate more than one view.”

Campbell has supported the nominations of two anti-abortion advocates to the U.S. Supreme Court: Justice Clarence Thomas and nominee Robert Bork.

“My support for both Bork and Thomas was based upon my sense of their qualifications,” Campbell said Tuesday. “At the time, neither man said his intention would be to reverse Roe vs. Wade,” he added, referring to the landmark abortion rights decision assailed by opponents of abortion.

“Thomas said he had not formed an opinion on the decision and, among his many virtues, that statement was not one of them,” Campbell said. “And Bork said he would decide the issue in the context of any case that was presented to the court.”

In his letter, Campbell said the abortion fight within the party has been as divisive as the civil rights debate of the 1950s and 1960s. “It took years of gradual progress for civil rights advocates to achieve their goals,” Campbell said. “By following their example of patience and perseverance, we can succeed in our quest as well.”

Campbell’s letter also notes that the GOP’s supporters of abortion rights include well-known Republicans such as retired Gen. Colin Powell, and Govs. George Pataki, Tom Ridge and Christine Todd Whitman of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively.