Governor of Virginia Shifts Position on Abortion Bill

The bill had drawn intense national attention in recent days, with a large protest by women’s health groups over the weekend and spoofs on left-leaning television shows.

In a political year that was suppposed to be all about the economy, this was the second instance in a month in which a public outcry  organized in part by women’s health advocates through social media caused a reversal on the issue of abortion. 

The governor’s decision not to support the bill capped several days of brinkmanship in which opponents of the measure lobbied furiously against it, galvanizing opposition by drawing on the image of male lawmakers mandating a procedure that requires inserting a probe into the vagina. One Democrat was prompted to denounce it as a “rape” bill.

Opponents presented what they said were 33,000 signatures protesting the measure. At the same time, the mostly Republican supporters in the legislature kept putting off debate on the measure, raising suspicions that the governor might be balking.

Finally, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. McDonnell, a rising star in the Republican Party who is often talked about as a candidate for vice president, told Republican delegates to make changes that softened the requirements in the legislation. Some political analysts speculated that the decision was made with an eye to a broader national audience that might not look favorably on the passage of such a conservative bill.

This month the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation yielded to pressure by affiliates and women’s rights advocates and reversed its decision to largely end decades of partnership with Planned Parenthood.

In Virginia, in a written statement issued minutes before the House of Delegates was to debate the bill on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. McDonnell said that after discussion with doctors, lawyers and legislators, he had concluded that amendments were needed. He called for changes stipulating that the ultrasound be abdominal rather than vaginal. A doctor would be required to offer the next level of ultrasound, most often vaginal, but a woman would be free to reject it.

“Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state,” the governor said in the statement.

The Family Foundation, a strong backer of the ultrasound bill, made reference to the Komen decision in a note to supporters blasting Mr. McDonnell’s reversal, saying that it was “extremely disappointed in this outcome,” particularly, it said, “given the strong pro-life credentials of this governor.”

The change — which passed the House in a vote of 65 to 32 — softens the bill considerably, but did not abolish the requirement that women have an ultrasound. If it is signed into law, Virginia would become the 10th state to require such procedures, though the requirement has been stayed by court rulings in two states, Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Specifically, the bill’s new wording would require a doctor to offer the woman a different type of ultrasound if the fetus is not viewable through an abdominal screening, but not require her to have one.

That opponents of the bill were successful in getting the language softened was a major success for them, particularly considering that vaginal ultrasounds are often administered before abortions anyway. A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood said the group routinely includes ultrasounds “as part of the thorough medical practice of abortion care,” and gives the woman the option of viewing the image. But the group said a legal requirement that women undergo such a screening was politically motivated and “is the very definition of government intrusion.”

Erik Eckholm and Jennifer Preston contributed reporting.

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The Caucus: Michigan Governor Endorses Romney, Calling Him a 'Native Son'

Josh Haner/The New York TimesGov. Rick Snyder of Michigan and Mitt Romney attending a lunch at the Farmington Hills Manor. Mr. Snyder endorsed Mr. Romney, citing his private sector experience.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Mitt Romney came here Thursday afternoon to pick up the endorsement of Gov. Rick Snyder, playing up his hometown roots and playing up the state of the Detroit auto industry, which has revived following a government bailout.

“I love the auto industry. I want to see it thrive and grow,” Mr. Romney told the friendly crowd, which included his brother and one of his sisters. “I’m glad it went through a managed bankruptcy process, which I recommended from the very beginning to shed unnecessary costs and get its footing again. I’m delighted it’s profitable.”

He added, “In my view, this auto industry can continue to lead the world and must continue to lead the world to keep Detroit with a vibrant and prosperous future.”

Mr. Romney made his comments on the same day that General Motors reported a quarterly profit of $472 million, meaning that the company’s hourly workers in the United States will receive record profit-sharing checks next month of up to $7,000.

“In my view, this auto industry can continue to lead the world and must continue to lead the world to keep Detroit with a vibrant and prosperous future,” said Mr. Romney, who did not mention the Big Three automaker by name.

Mr. Snyder’s endorsement comes as Mr. Romney is battling a challenge from Rick Santorum, who is leading in many polls in Mr. Romney’s home state, where his father, George Romney, served as governor for three terms.

It is unclear how much the support of Mr. Snyder, a political novice himself who was just elected in 2010, will help Mr. Romney here. Mr. Snyder’s job approval ratings have been low, but climbing.

In his endorsement, Mr. Snyder played up Mr. Romney’s business experience.

“He has a great combination of private sector experience,” Mr. Snyder said, “of knowing what it takes to create a job, and how difficult that is, how to succeed in the private sector. He also brings that experience of being the chief executive of a state, of understanding what it is to be in the public sector, and to be successful in running a state. That’s the experience we need in Washington.”

The “icing on the cake,” Mr. Snyder added, is that Mr. Romney is a native son.

“We have the right man here to help lead our country, but there’s a special bonus,” Mr. Snyder said. “He was born and raised a Michigander, he understands our state, he’s one of us. And that’s another area of particular pride. “

When it was his turn, Mr. Romney also played up his local roots, offering “a little history.”

“I was born and raised here,” he said. “I love this state. It seems right here. The trees are the right height. I like seeing the lakes. I love the lakes. There’s something very special here.” (In terms of the lakes he so loves, Mr. Romney clarified: “The Great Lakes, but also all the little inland lakes that dot the parts of Michigan.”)

Mr. Romney, the son of an auto executive turned governor, continued naming the things that he loves, including cars.

“I grew up totally in love with cars,” he said. “It used to be in the 50s and 60s, if you showed me one square foot of almost any part of a car I could tell you what brand it was, the model and so forth. Now with all the Japanese cars I’m not so good at it, but I still know the American cars pretty well.”

Mr. Romney told the crowd that he drives a Mustang.

“I love American cars, and long may they rule the world,” he said. “Let me tell you, I want them to do well.”

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