John McCain startled conservatives this week, and pleased some moderates, by suggesting he might pick a running mate who supports abortion rights.
And Democrats revising their party platform have strengthened language supporting abortion rights, but also on reducing the need for abortions.
Democratic officials also gave a convention speaking slot to Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, who opposes abortion rights.
The developments suggest that both parties sense that a large middle group of Americans would like to see abortion vanish, but not by legal decree. Polls tend to bear that out.
