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| US Election 2016: Donald Trump says 'laws are set' on abortion | US Election 2016: Donald Trump says 'laws are set' on abortion |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said US abortion laws should remain unchanged, although he believes the procedure amounts to murder. | Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said US abortion laws should remain unchanged, although he believes the procedure amounts to murder. |
| In an interview with CBS News, Mr Trump said: "The laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way". | In an interview with CBS News, Mr Trump said: "The laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way". |
| His comments come as Mr Trump has struggled this week to articulate his position on abortion. | His comments come as Mr Trump has struggled this week to articulate his position on abortion. |
| He withdrew a call for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it. | He withdrew a call for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it. |
| After an outpouring of criticism from both anti-abortion and abortion rights activists, Mr Trump later said only the people who perform abortions should face punishment. | After an outpouring of criticism from both anti-abortion and abortion rights activists, Mr Trump later said only the people who perform abortions should face punishment. |
| The comments end a rocky week for Mr Trump on the campaign trail. | The comments end a rocky week for Mr Trump on the campaign trail. |
| According to some polls, he is trailing Texas Senator Ted Cruz by 10 percentage points in Wisconsin, which holds its primary on Tuesday. | |
| Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and Mr Trump's Republican rivals Mr Cruz and John Kasich repeatedly criticised Mr Trump's shifting comments on abortion. | |
| Mr Cruz said the remarks showed that Mr Trump "hasn't seriously thought through the issues". | Mr Cruz said the remarks showed that Mr Trump "hasn't seriously thought through the issues". |
| Mr Kasich - the popular governor of Ohio - also questioned whether Mr Trump had the temperament needed for the office of the president. | Mr Kasich - the popular governor of Ohio - also questioned whether Mr Trump had the temperament needed for the office of the president. |
| The Republican front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with some exceptions. | The Republican front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with some exceptions. |
| Only the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal. | Only the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal. |
| After the comments were made public, Mr Trump's spokeswoman Hope Hicks sought to clarify his statement. | After the comments were made public, Mr Trump's spokeswoman Hope Hicks sought to clarify his statement. |
| Ms Hicks said that Mr Trump would change abortion laws if elected by appointing Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade. | Ms Hicks said that Mr Trump would change abortion laws if elected by appointing Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade. |
| Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. | Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. |
| Anti-abortion activists have traditionally avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure. | |
| More on the Trump campaign | More on the Trump campaign |
| Trump's disastrous women voter problem - This voting bloc could doom in chances in the general election | Trump's disastrous women voter problem - This voting bloc could doom in chances in the general election |
| Five ways Republican bloodbath could end - The party braces for brutal run-up to the nomination | Five ways Republican bloodbath could end - The party braces for brutal run-up to the nomination |
| Trump, Clinton and the 'None of the Above' era - Rarely have those running for high office been held in such low esteem | Trump, Clinton and the 'None of the Above' era - Rarely have those running for high office been held in such low esteem |
| In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. | In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. |
| Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. | Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. |
| The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. | The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. |
| Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump's prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters. | Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump's prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters. |
| Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly. | Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly. |
| His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski. | His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski. |