S.C. GOP primary puts spotlight on Romney abortion stance

Nine days before the South Carolina primary, Mitt Romney has 'picked up his pro-life rhetoric' as Newt Gingrich goes on the attack.

National Journal: Republican Candidates Get Lucky On Health Insurance
[Mitt Romney] has the luxury of choosing among several coverage options, thanks to the health care reform law he signed in his home state. Romney, like all his rivals for the Republican nomination, says he would like to repeal the 2010 health care reform law, privatize parts of Medicare, and create a system in which more people shop for health insurance on the individual market. But that's not the option most of the candidates have taken for their personal health care (Sanger-Katz and McCarthy, 1/12).

Politico: Ahead Of South Carolina Primary: Mitt Romney Picks Up Pro-Life Rhetoric
At both voter rallies he held there, home of the next primary, Romney added language to his stump speech reminding voters he is pro-life. And the candidate, who's hoping this socially conservative state where he's hoping to score a third consecutive early state win on Jan. 21, says that's no mistake (Epstein and Summers, 1/12).

Boston Globe: Gingrich Slams Romney Over Record On Abortion
The [Gingrich] ad says Romney appointed a proabortion judge, expanded access to 'abortion pills,' put Planned Parenthood on a state medical board but not a prolife group, and signed into law 'government-mandated health care with taxpayer-funded abortions.' ... FACT CHECK: Romney did change his position from supporting abortion rights to being antiabortion, apparently during his tenure as Massachusetts governor (Schoenberg, 1/13).

CNN Money: Small Business To Candidates: What About Us?
Restaurant operators, health consultants, manufacturers and many more CNN Money spoke with say the candidates haven't given their concerns about health care costs, regulation and taxes enough special attention. ... Dave Jacobs, president of Houston-based TechKnowledge Consulting, plans to vote for Romney. His firm, which equips buildings with the latest technology during construction, has been hard hit because of the changes in health care reform. In 2008, Jacobs spent many sleepless nights because fears about federal health care changes caused five hospital projects to be put on hold (Pagliery, 1/12).