GOP CONTENDERS REJECT ABORTION LITMUS TEST

The Christian Coalition's warning that pro-lifers will not support a GOP presidential ticket with a pro-choice candidate got a cool response from some Republicans. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), who is mulling a White House bid, said he does not want any single issue to disqualify anyone from the ticket. That was echoed by presidential contender Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.) and ex-Vice President Dan Quayle, who dropped out of the race last week. Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed said putting a pro-choice candidate on the ticket would alienate the strong anti-abortion faction. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) has mentioned several popular pro-choice governors as possible running mates. Among them: California's Pete Wilson, Massachusetts governor William Weld and New Jersey's Christine Whitman.TIME religion writer Richard N. Ostlingnotes that many voters want abortion to remain legal, even though they may personally oppose it. That, he says, leaves "running room" for politicians who oppose abortion as well as those who see it as a matter of personal choice.