MAINSTREAM?

Lindsey Graham Introduces National ‘Late-Term Abortions’ Ban to Senate

He said the bill will ban abortions from 15 weeks, which is at the beginning of the second trimester and not “late term.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced a nationwide “late-term”abortion ban in the Senate on Tuesday, despite warnings that the issue no longer plays into GOP hands after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

The South Carolina Republican, flanked by female anti-abortion rights activists, said at a press conference the bill would ban abortion after 15 weeks with exceptions for some instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk. Graham has previously introduced bills seeking abortion bans from the 20-week mark.

“If we take back the House and Senate, I can assure we’ll have a vote,” Graham said.

Asked about his previous position that abortion was a state’s rights issue, Graham said the bill was meant as a counter to a Democratic bill aimed at codifying abortion rights that failed to pass the Senate in May.

“After they introduced a bill to define who they are, I thought it would be nice to release a bill defining who we are,” Graham said.

He later added, “I know many who would like to do more, but you know, this is a reasonable position.”

The plan comes less than two months before the midterm elections, which many Democrats will be fighting on an abortion-rights platform.

Axios said Graham’s bill might be an attempt to portray the GOP as “more mainstream on abortion by pushing a partial ban over either a full ban or what they characterize as Democrats’ ‘abortion on-demand’ position.”

Asked he had spoken to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) about the bill, Graham said he hadn’t, adding, “I just sorta, like, spoke to the ladies behind me.”