August 20, 2008 - 15:59

Mass. GOP delegate says pro-choice VP wouldn’t be a deal breaker

A member of Massachusetts' delegation to the Republican National Convention said Wednesday that if presumptive Republican nominee John McCain selected a running mate that supports abortion rights, she would still vote for him in St. Paul.

McCain (Ariz.) has come under fire from the conservative wing of the GOP recently over speculation that he may select a running mate that supports abortion rights. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R) and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) are two politicians rumored to be on McCain's list who support abortion rights.

Danielle Fish, a Massachusetts delegate to the Republican National Convention, however, told PolitickerMA.com Wednesday that she would still support McCain at the convention if Ridge or Lieberman, or any other politician that backs abortion rights, was tapped as McCain's running mate.

"It's not a deal breaker," Fish, 38, said.

The Mansfield mother of two said economic policy, public safety and social security are more important to her.

"I'm looking at fiscal policy," she said. "That's what is at the top of my list. Let's get our house in order on fiscal issues."

Fish said she hasn't discussed the issue with other members of the delegation, but that she wouldn't expect abortion rights to divide the group. "There is great unity behind the idea of lower taxes and smaller government," she said. "That's what the party stands for."

Abortion rights, she added, are "important but secondary at the moment given the economy."

Fish already said the delegation is pulling for former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Belmont) to be selected as the vice presidential candidate. "Being from Massachusetts, we're hoping for the hometown guy," she said. "We'd really like to see Romney come out as the pick."

Abortion rights, she reiterated, aren't the primary issue, though.

"It's not a deal breaker," Fish said again. "We're with McCain and that's that."

Jeremy P. Jacobs is a PolitickerMA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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