A Litmus Test Dies in Iowa

There is a grass roots movement to recruit pro-life Democrats in Iowa. David Yepsen of the Des Moines register likes the idea: Welcome pro-life Democrats

For years, the Iowa Democratic party has been solidly pro-choice. It wasn't always that way. The late governor and senator Harold Hughes was strongly anti-abortion. Over the years many anti-abortion Democrats, especially from Iowa's more heavily Roman Catholic or evangelical areas, have felt increasingly alienated from their party over this issue. Some even became Republicans.

The Democratic "tent" hasn't been as big as some Democrats would like to believe. That's been costly, and Republicans have welcomed the votes of these "Reagan Democrats." While some pro-choice Republicans left their party over this issue, the trade-off seems to have netted the GOP more.

(Polls show there are more pro-choice people than pro-lifers, but it's also true there are more single-issue pro-life voters than single-issue pro-choice ones. Advantage: Republicans.)

This may be the only time I've ever read about the Republican's (rather lukewarm) pro-life stance actually being a political plus for them. I think it probably is a small plus. The Republicans haven't really gained as much as the Democrats had lost by kicking pro-lifers out of their tent in the 70's and 80's. Welcoming back these voters, many of whom are much more comfortable with the Democratic agenda as a whole, is a no-brainer for the Dems. Of course, it won't treated as such. There will be much wailing and nashing of teeth. But you cannot argue with results.

The 2004 election changed some Democratic thinking. At the national level, Democrats watched as Republicans captured a majority of votes of people most concerned about moral values. "As a wedge issue, this has helped Republicans tremendously," Kibbie said. "I don't want to see our party get narrowed down to a pro-choice party."

Also, in Iowa, one reason Democrats picked up legislative seats is that some candidates they ran were anti-abortion in districts where many voters hold similar views. While that upset the pro-choicers, it proved a successful political strategy for legislative Democratic leaders, some of whom are also anti-abortion.

The question remains to be seen as to how this will play for the national party as a whole. The fact that this is happening in Iowa, not exactly unfriendly ground for the Democrats, might signal that there is a sea change approaching.