Top Republican Election Official Says Candidates Are On Their Own With Abortion

Greg Nash | The Hill

When challenged by a Fox Business host to explain what actions she’s taking to defeat Democrats’ electoral advantage on abortion, Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, shirked responsibility and offered little by way of leadership: “Yeah, it’s gonna be up to the candidates, guys.”

Republicans on the political issue of abortion are the proverbial dog that caught the car. 

After campaigning for decades on their desire to overturn federal protections for abortion and finally succeeding in 2022 by way of the religiously conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court, the GOP has been consistently punished by the American electorate at the ballot box in both the 2022 and 2023 elections.

Conservative commentators from Charlie Kirk to Ben Shapiro have lamented Republicans’ inability to hold their own in the messaging battle against Democrats on abortion, with both calling for McDaniel to lose her job as the person commanding the GOP’s election infrastructure. 

Such calls were echoed by Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, triggering a high profile feud between him and Romney.

In the Fox Business interview, the host correctly reminds the audience and Romney that Democrats manifestly enjoy a colossal advantage on the issue of abortion and bluntly opined that Republicans have failed to find their footing. 

“Ronna, what are you doing for Republicans to get on the other side of that issue and counteract the advantage Democrats have on the issue right now?”

“Yeah, it’s gonna be up to the candidates, guys,” Romney replied curtly, “The candidates and their consultants have got to take this head on.”