http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/abortion-donald-trump-223093Anti-abortion groups moving — reluctantly — toward Trump
By Jennifer Haberkorn
05/11/16 06:00 PM EDT
Anti-abortion groups that steadfastly opposed Donald Trump are coming around — though not with great enthusiasm.
The thawing of relations comes as the Trump camp has made moves that anti-abortion leaders view as potentially promising that he will champion their causes if he becomes president. On Tuesday evening, the presumptive GOP nominee pledged to appoint “pro-life” judges, his clearest and most prominent effort to date to tap into one of the highest priorities of anti-abortion voters.
In addition, Trump’s recent decision to hire Sen. Thom Tillis’ chief of staff John Mashburn, a prominent opponent of abortion, was widely praised among anti-abortion groups. They saw it as a sign that Trump wants people around him who understand their issue, and that he can offer a clear contrast with Hillary Clinton, a long-time supporter of abortion rights.
“As unpredictable as Donald Trump is, Hillary Clinton is completely predictable,” said Penny Nance, CEO and president of Concerned Women of America. “We have no question about where she is on these issues.”
Nance was among the prominent women leaders who signed a letter in January asking Republican primary voters to select “anyone” but Trump. They’ve expressed concerns about his past support for abortion rights, as well as some off-message comments he made, and then retracted, about punishing women who end their pregnancies. Now they are giving him another look — and also making clear that they expect him to live up to his recent commitments.
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