As President Biden embarked on two campaign events in Florida, his re-election campaign dismissed inquiries regarding his stance on abortion restrictions as a ‘Republican trap.’ Despite Biden’s previous support for some limitations on the procedure, his campaign maintained that he remains unwavering in his commitment to restoring the protections established by Roe v. Wade.
Throughout his extensive political career, Biden’s views on abortion have undergone a transformation, evolving from early opposition to his current support for codifying abortion rights nationwide through a Democratic-led Congress. During a press call, campaign representatives declined to elaborate on Biden’s position, emphasizing that they would not engage in a debate that they perceive as a Republican ploy to distract from the campaign’s focus.
However, Biden has previously acknowledged his support for certain restrictions on abortion. In October 2022, he affirmed that there should be some limitations, referencing the Roe v. Wade precedent that permitted states to regulate abortions in the second trimester and prohibit them entirely in the third.
Following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, several states have reinstated restrictive abortion laws. Arizona’s Supreme Court recently reinstated an 1864 law banning abortions without exceptions for rape or incest.
The Biden campaign has prioritized abortion rights as a central issue, highlighting the appointment of conservative justices to the Supreme Court during Donald Trump’s presidency. Trump has taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade and advocated for individual states to determine abortion regulations. Notably, Trump expressed concerns that Arizona’s law was too restrictive.
During his Florida campaign events, Biden is expected to criticize a 15-week abortion ban that has been upheld by the state Supreme Court. His campaign maintains that they consider Florida a ‘winnable’ state despite recent Republican successes led by Governor Ron DeSantis.
