THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110109
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The head of the Christian Coalition warned Friday that religious conservatives would not support the Republican presidential ticket in 1996 unless both candidates opposed abortion.
The warning threatened to divide the party on an issue many had hoped to keep out of the next campaign.
Ralph Reed is executive director of the coalition, which counts 1.5 million members in 1,200 chapters.
He drew cheers at the Conservative Political Action Conference, saying that ``pro-life and pro-family voters, a third of the electorate, will not support a party that retreats from its noble and historic defense of traditional values and which has a national ticket or a platform that does not share Ronald Reagan's belief in the sanctity of innocent human life.''
The blunt declaration from Reed, apparently aimed at Republican hopefuls like governors Pete Wilson of California, William F. Weld of Massachusetts and Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey, is the latest indication that Republicans will be unsuccessful in their effort to avoid a noisy and potentially costly rift over abortion.
Republicans already are being forced to take positions on the fate of President Clinton's nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Henry W. Foster Jr., who has been attacked by anti-abortion forces for performing abortions. And in Congress, a battle is forming over the question of whether states can use federal crime-prevention money to protect abortion clinics.
Reed seemed to be trying to set the ground rules for the contest for the allegiance of the Republican right, hastened by Thursday's withdrawal of former Vice President Dan Quayle, a favorite of many conservatives like Reed.
He did not specify an alternative for religious conservatives in the event that the Republican ticket proved to be unacceptable.
Because the Christian Coalition is the most influential group of religious conservatives, several presidential prospects have already begun wooing its members.
But the stand that Reed outlined Friday would eliminate some of the leading potential contenders for president or vice president, including Wilson, Weld and Whitman.
Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, the majority leader, opposes abortion but has been less hard-line than presidential hopeful Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, who supports a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.
Dole cautioned the Christian Coalition Friday against making too much of the issue.
``In my view, we're all Republicans; we're trying to broaden the party,'' he said. ``It seems to me we all ought to be out there discussing issues that bring us together, that increase our numbers. I've named a whole lot of people that would be good running mates. I don't think I even thought about what their positions were on A, B, C or D.'' by CNB