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Notes -
If the election had gone the other way, and abortion was cited as being as important a reason for the Republicans' drubbing as trans issues were for the Democrats', would anyone at all have thought that Trump "not campaigning on abortion" meant that Republicans were excused from changing course?
I think, in that case, not changing would be considered to be certain doom for the Republicans' prospects. Of course, that's probably overestimating that effect much like those quoted are underestimating the effects of their own not changing course.
Funny you mention that, before Election Day I did in fact see multiple ads promising that Donald Trump would not pass a national abortion ban. Clearly, his campaign recognized it as a vote-losing issue and took steps to try to remedy that.
Cursory research in how politics work in the country to their immediate north would have told them this is a flag the party with an urban female voting bloc will wave without end.
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