Nikki Haley explained that if a federal abortion ban were to reach her desk as president, she would sign it but figures the odds of that happening anytime soon are slim.
Speaking at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, the presidential candidate appeared to make her strongest comments on the subject to date. Haley had previously claimed that a federal abortion ban stands little chance of reaching filibuster-proof support in the upper chamber.
“If there’s 60 votes, which we’re not anywhere near that, and if there’s something where they’ve come together on consensus, yes, of course, I would sign it because that’s 60 votes out of 100 saying this is what America wants, but we’re at 45, so we’re not anywhere close,” Haley explained.
The former South Carolina governor and former U.N. ambassador asserted that she’s pro-life and won’t change her views whenever she campaigns in a state where that position is less popular.
“I’m being very honest with you. I can’t suddenly change my pro-life position because I’m campaigning in New Hampshire, but what I will tell you is I think it’s incredibly personal and I’m going to treat it with the respect it deserves,” Haley said.
She added that many media outlets tend to focus on a federal abortion ban without clarifying to the American people that it is an unlikely scenario.
“I’m also going to tell you the truth: Don’t let them tell you that a Republican president can ban abortion because we have 45 pro-life senators. We might get one or two this cycle. We’re nowhere near 60. No one wants to tell you that. The media won’t tell you that, but I’m going to tell you that,” Haley said, adding that we should instead debate consensus policies like opposing late-term abortions throughout the country and protecting the rights of medical professionals to refuse to perform an abortion.
“When they want to talk about how many weeks are you for, don’t let them divide us on that. We are for saving as many babies as possible and supporting as many moms as we can,” said Haley. “If they ask me how many weeks I am [for]. I’m gonna ask them if they’ve asked Kamala [Harris and Joe] Biden whether they’re for 36 weeks, 37 weeks, 38 weeks. No one’s asked them that.”
As governor of South Carolina, Haley signed into law a 20-week abortion ban and has consistently opposed Roe v. Wade.
Some pro-life groups have asked Republican candidates for a firm commitment to a federal abortion ban. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has argued it would not back any 2024 presidential candidate who doesn’t support a 15-week federal abortion ban.
Candidates like frontrunner Donald Trump and Senator Tim Scott (R., S.C.) have avoided making a firm commitment. On the other hand, former vice president Mike Pence, who is expected to jump into the race shortly, has been particularly vocal in his support of a federal abortion ban.
News also broke Wednesday that Haley would participate in a CNN town hall in early June, where the issue of abortion is likely to be broached again.