Texas GOP Abortion Fight Ends

Hutchison in as delegate

SAN ANTONIO (AP, June 22) -- A fight over abortion at the Texas Republican Convention ended Saturday with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison being elected as a delegate to the GOP National Convention despite her support for restricted abortion rights.

Mrs. Hutchison was at the center of a fray that threatened to split the state's party over the emotional issue.

Anti-abortion activists won an overwhelming majority of the state's 123 delegates and barely missed -- on a voice vote -- defeating a slate of delegates that included Mrs. Hutchison.

A vocal group that opposed the final vote attempted to get a recount, but Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken said a majority wasn't in favor of such a move.

"I think it's a strong delegation ... that includes Senator Hutchison," Pauken said after the vote. "I think most elements of the party were reasonably satisfied, some were not and these are good sincere people and I understand that they're frustrated."

Bill Price, president of Texans United for Life and the most vocal opponent of Mrs. Hutchison, said he was disappointed with the vote.

"I thought the vote was too close to call," Price said. "But the fact of the matter is, we sent a signal that a lot of people didn't think we could send."

Anti-abortion activists won roughly 88 of Texas' 123 delegates to the national convention.

Mrs. Hutchison, who wasn't present at the convention for the vote, had said Friday that she was the target of a "kamikaze mission" by a "small group that is not in the mainstream of our party" and predicted she would be voted in as a delegate "because there's such an outpouring of support from the grass roots."

Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas and House Speaker Newt Gingrich were vocal supporters of Mrs. Hutchison's being a delegate. Gramm said he would not be a delegate if she was not.

Abortion became a lightning rod at the Texas GOP Convention after Dole requested a "declaration of tolerance" on the issue.

The putative nominee did not attend the state convention, but others worked on his behalf to make sure Mrs. Hutchison would be included in the national delegation.

Texas GOP Abortion Fight Ends

Hutchison in as delegate

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