Graham: To those who suggest that being pro-life is losing politics, I reject that

Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday defended his federal abortion restriction bill, as well as his record on whether abortion should be left up to the states.

To those who suggest that being pro-life is losing politics, I reject that, Graham (R-S.C.) said on Fox News Sunday.

Graham introduced a Senate bill on Tuesday that would ban abortion in most cases at 15 weeks of pregnancy; a companion bill has been proposed in the House by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).

Some of Grahams fellow Republicans expressed confusion and hesitancy about the bill this week, and many conservatives have argued abortion restrictions should instead be left to individual states.

Supporters of legal abortion have said Grahams legislation demonstrates that the real aim of Republicans is to restrict and ultimately ban abortion even in states that have enshrined it in their constitutions. There are those in the party that think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi quipped.

The South Carolina senator argued Sunday that he has not been inconsistent on his own stance.