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Huckabee Puts Abortion Front And Center In 2012 GOP Presidential Primary

Fmr. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R)

As a veteran of the abortion wars, it’s no big surprise that Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is making reproductive rights the centerpiece of his (likely) 2012 presidential campaign.

“For me this is an issue that - as I’ve said before - it transcends all of the political issues,” Huckabee told an anti-abortion crowd at a fundraiser the Center for Bioethical Reform. “I’ve often said I would gladly lose an election before I would ever yield on the issue of the sanctity of human life.”

CNN notes that most other GOP contenders have thus far been tight-lipped about social issues. But they don’t have their fingers on the pulse of their base. For instance, House Republicans who have spent a huge chunk of their first month in power dedicated to rolling back abortion rights. If Huckabee’s competitors think they can rest on their laurels, they’re probably mistaken.

Brian Beutler

Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.

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