Rock Hill, SC – Reproductive rights have rapidly become a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election. This week, Donald Trump moved to defend access to fertility treatments like IVF, just days after a ruling in Alabama that embryos should be considered children.
Speaking to supporters at a rally in South Carolina, Trump said “We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder.” He declared strong support for keeping IVF available in every state, arguing “The Republican Party should always be on the side of the miracle of life.”
The former president’s comments indicate how contentious the issue of reproductive rights has become, especially after the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections last June. Numerous states have since moved to restrict or ban abortion access entirely.
While abortion remains the central issue, the debate is expanding to encompass other aspects of reproductive medicine. The recent Alabama ruling said life begins at conception, which could jeopardize IVF and other treatments. Already three IVF clinics in the state have suspended services over liability concerns.
For Trump, voicing support for IVF may be a strategic move to soften his image on women’s reproductive autonomy. It comes as Democrats are trying to tie him to the wave of new abortion restrictions, framing it as dangerous governmental overreach.
Trump remains the dominant front-runner for the Republican nomination. He is expected to easily defeat challenger Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary this Saturday. Haley has centered her underdog campaign around a call for “normalcy,” portraying Trump as a threat to democracy.
But polls show the former UN Ambassador trailing by double digits in her home state. She spent Friday making a last-minute appeal to voters, saying the choice is between “more of the same with Trump or a new generational leader.
Trump held an energetic rally in Rock Hill on the eve of the primary. Supporters dismissed the massive $375 million fraud judgment against his business empire in New York as politically motivated. “They’re trying to destroy him financially,” said Sheila McKenna.
Many shared the view that Trump is unfairly targeted by the legal system and media. “He’s not a politician, he’s his own person,” said Amy Walters. “They throw anything at him, but he’s still going.”
Longshot efforts are underway to mobilize South Carolina Democrats and independents to cross party lines and vote for Haley, who they view as less extreme. But Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright called it counterproductive, saying “We need unity to defeat Trump.”
Reproductive Rights Take Center Stage
The drama over reproductive rights traces back to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The ruling undid 50 years of precedent and allowed states to impose abortion restrictions. 13 states have since enacted near-total bans, with limited exceptions.
These laws have become immensely divisive across the country. Democrats see it as an assault on bodily autonomy that disproportionately harms poor women and women of color. Republicans frame it as protecting unborn life.
The issue has taken on even greater urgency looking towards the 2024 general election. Democrats believe public outrage over Diminished abortion access will galvanize supporters and independents. They are painting Republicans as extremists trying to drag America backwards.
President Biden has vowed to make codifying Roe a priority in his second term. He signed an executive order in August seeking to mitigate some impacts of new abortion restrictions. But there is only so much he can do without Congress.
Meanwhile, Republican positions run the gamut from fully banning abortion to allowing exceptions for rape, incest, and health risks. Trump has generally avoided specifics, but leaned into culture war attacks on “radical Democrats.”
The Supreme Court may further expand states’ authority in a pending Mississippi case, potentially upholding a ban on abortion after 15 weeks. Such a decision could embolden red states while putting purple states in play for new restrictions.
So far, the backlash against abortion bans has manifested most clearly at the ballot box. Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would have allowed the legislature to regulate abortion more strictly. Several special elections have also gone towards Democrats.
IVF and Personhood Collide in Alabama
While abortion access drives most coverage, the spotlight recently expanded to IVF and “personhood” issues in Alabama. It started when the state Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that “life begins at conception.”
The decision came in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a man whose ex-wife had disposed of frozen embryos the couple created via IVF during their marriage. The court said embryos should be recognized as human life.
This reasoning calls into question the validity of contracts people sign before IVF saying excess embryos can be discarded. It is also ambiguous on whether “conception” means fertilization or implantation in the uterus.
The ruling sent shockwaves through Alabama’s reproductive medicine community. Two major IVF clinics stopped accepting new patients and a third ceased operations entirely. They feared potential liability if embryos do not survive the implantation process.
Other experts warned the decision could make IVF doctors vulnerable to homicide charges in the event of an unsuccessful procedure. Some procedures like freezing embryos or genetic testing could also be called into question.
For people struggling with infertility, the ruling added more stress and uncertainty to an already emotional process.
One woman who lost twins in pregnancy told local news “these are embryos…they’re not walking around.” She continued “I just don’t think this law was made with the intent of hurting women or couples trying to conceive.”
The rising personhood movement believes rights and protections should be extended to fertilized embryos and fetuses. This logic has gained traction in numerous Republican states in recent years. Opponents argue it severely restricts reproductive options and pits the rights of an embryo against the woman carrying it.
Trump walked a careful line on the Alabama case. He steered clear of the personhood movement’s core arguments. Instead he framed support for IVF as helping “mothers and fathers” have children. This tacitly reinforces IVF as a procedure that should remain available.
Haley Challenges Party to Drop Trump Baggage
Nikki Haley is challenging Trump from the center, promising a new direction for the Republican Party. She says his divisive approach lost them the House, Senate, and White House over two elections.
But convincing South Carolina voters to abandon Trump’s agenda remains an uphill climb. The primary will likely be her last stand after faring poorly in early states.
Throughout her campaign, Haley has angled for more moderate, college-educated voters and suburban women. She says the party needs to move past Trump’s election lies and abrasive style.
Her message does not seem to be resonating so far. Primary voters still overwhelmingly support Trump’s hardline stances and view election fraud claims as legitimate grievances.
Haley contends Republicans can expand their tent without sacrificing core values. She cites accomplishments like tax cuts and increasing educational choice. But Trump’s base has shown limited interest in her pitch.
With Trump dominating among the GOP base, Haley has courted Democrats and Independents who did not vote in their primary. South Carolina has open primaries where voters can participate in either party’s contest.
One group called Primary Pivot is contacting Democratic-leaning voters, portraying Haley as less polarizing. They want to blunt Trump’s momentum going into Super Tuesday on March 5.
But these tactics raise questions about whether a party should strategically interfere in the other side’s nomination process. State Democrats have largely rejected them as counterproductive.
Biden Still Seeks Footing in South Carolina
On the Democratic side, President Biden is not facing any serious primary challenger. But there are nagging doubts about his political standing.
South Carolina was the site of Biden’s crucial primary win in 2020 after starting off weakly. Black voters revived his campaign in the Palmetto State and propelled him to the nomination.
This makes South Carolina an important barometer of Biden’s current support with a key constituency. But this primary comes at an odd juncture, with Biden already the incumbent president.
Recent polls give Biden a solid but unspectacular approval rating around 75% with South Carolina Democrats. This suggests some erosion from the 61% primary vote share he earned here four years ago.
Biden has not heavily campaigned in the state due to his light primary schedule. Surrogates like House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn have made appearances on his behalf.
There are some rumblings of disappointment that Biden has not made more progress on issues like voting rights, police reform, and reducing student debt. But Democrats still overwhelmingly prefer him over any Republican alternative.
If Haley somehow pulls off an upset, she would gain momentum but still face nearly impossible odds of winning the nomination outright. More likely, Trump would consolidate support after some early stumbles.
For now all eyes are on the South Carolina primaries this Saturday. The state will help shape the course of the race as it moves into a frenzied three week sprint towards March 5. Voters here may offer clues on how reproductive rights will factor going forward.
