ALLEN URGED TO YIELD ON ABORTION

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 15, 1993                   TAG: 9301150142
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
ALLEN URGED TO YIELD ON ABORTION
Republican women warned gubernatorial hopeful George Allen Thursday that his anti-abortion views may doom his chances of winning election.
In an appearance before the Virginia Federation of Republican Women, Allen was reminded that an uncompromising stand against abortion rights was a major reason why the last Republican gubernatorial nominee - Marshall Coleman - was defeated in 1989.
"We will not win with that position," said Betty Greer, a GOP activist from McLean. She predicted it would allow Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, the probable Democratic nominee and an abortion rights supporter, to "kill us."
Allen said his views are not akin to Coleman's, who opposed all abortions except when the woman's life would be endangered by continuing a pregnancy.
Allen, former congressman from Charlottesville, said he would protect abortion rights in cases where pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, when the fetus is grossly deformed or when the woman's life is in danger.
Allen said he is "philosophically opposed" to other abortions. He favors requiring that unmarried teen-agers receive parental permission before having an abortion, wants a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortion and opposes the use of tax money to pay for abortions.
Allen said he would consider imposing additional restrictions if the U.S. Supreme Court gives states wider latitude to regulate abortions.
Allen's opponents for the GOP nomination - McLean businessman Earle Williams and Del. Clinton Miller of Shenandoah - favor unrestricted abortion rights during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Not all the members of the Republican federation favor abortion rights. Patricia Bonnach, a pro-abortion rights member from Fairfax, said: "There's nothing wrong with what George Allen is saying. I support him 2,000 percent."
Keywords:
POLITICS

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB