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such as incest or rape. At the same time, national polls reflect that Americans do not favor using abortion as a routine method of birth control.
Wilder has said that he would permit abortion in cases of rape, incest, or suspected severe incapacitating fetal deformities. He has strayed from pro-choice advocates, however, in abortions involving those under the age of 18, saying he favors requiring physicians to inform the parents of minor before performing an abortion.
In such cases, the lieutenant governor supports obtaining parental consent.
The other statewide candidates have fallen in line behind their party’s candidate for governor.
State senators Edwina “Eddy” P. Dalton and Joseph B. Benedetti, Republican candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general respectively, who have both been patrons of parental consent legislation, praised the court’s decision.
“My personal belief is that life begins at conception and that adoption is preferable to abortion,” said Sen Dalton.
Donald S. Beyer Jr., Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, aligned himself with the state forefathers as he has in the past.
“George Mason incorporated the right of privacy into the Bill of Rights,” said Beyer. “As Virginia’s lieutenant governor, I will take the conservative position to work to keep government out of the most personal decision an individual may ever have to make.”
Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, running for re-election, explained the impact of the court’s decision on Virginia law.
“The decision by the court has no immediate impact on any existing Virginia law. Nor does it require the General Assembly to amend or re-examine any existing statute.”
There is concern among members of both party’s that the abortion issue will dominate the campaign, making the election a referendum on abortion. Still others have speculated that the issue may fade as the November election draws near.
The candidates are expected to face off on the abortion topic and other state issued during their first debates, scheduled for July 15 at the Greenbriar Hotel and July 22 in Virginia Beach.
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