Thus far, the higher-profile television ads of both candidates have been silent on an issue that has consumed Missouri politics for years and one in which the two men are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Carnahan, a Democrat, strongly supports abortion rights. Republican incumbent Ashcroft, on the other hand, is firmly anti-abortion. In 1998, he co-sponsored a Constitutional amendment that would have banned abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Both men have been labelled extremists on the issue by opponents, but a Carnahan spokeswoman said that neither has to make their views clear in the latest campaign.
People know where they stand, and people aren t going to make their decisions based on that issue.
The people that are going to make their decisions on that issue have already made their decisions. Ashcroft spokesman David James said abortion hasn t been downplayed by Ashcroft. Although gun control hasn t taken as high a profile in Missouri, the contrasts on that issue are just as sharp. Last year, Ashcroft voted against a measure in the Senate that would have required trigger locks on all handguns that are sold or transferred, while Carnahan favors mandatory trigger locks. In their Senate race, incumbent John Ashcroft and Gov. Mel Carnahan are cashing in on their opposing views on abortion and gun control.