At a town hall in Iowa, a man addressed Ron DeSantis with a seemingly simple question: How does the Florida governor plan to tackle the topic of abortion in the upcoming 2024 presidential election?

DeSantis stated that he would approach the topic in the same manner as he did in Florida. He articulated our current stance and actions.

He spoke for almost four minutes without mentioning “abortion.” Instead, he condemned his opponent Donald Trump for skipping debates and criticized Nikki Haley for her mistakes on the campaign trail.

The topic of abortion has not been a significant focus in the preparation for this year’s Iowa Republican caucuses, which is a significant shift in a state known for supporting religious conservatives who oppose abortion. This change can be attributed in part to the Republican party’s success in overturning a federal law protecting abortion rights. However, it also highlights a widespread concern among Republican candidates and voters about the potential backlash of openly advocating for stricter restrictions on abortion in 2024.

Democrats outperformed expectations in the 2022 midterms and several state races last year campaigning on the issue. And President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign plans to make abortion rights central to its strategy this year.

Greg Jennings, a retired painting contractor from Clear Lake, Iowa, who was attending a rally for Trump, stated that if the issue continues to cause us to lose elections, he believes we should get rid of it completely and let God make the final judgment.

During interviews with over 25 Republican voters in the state over the past week, very few mentioned abortion as a key issue in this election year. Instead, they expressed worries about the border, the economy, and America’s position in the global community. This does not mean that there aren’t fervent advocates among evangelical voters, who make up an essential part of the Republican base.

Brian Downes, a resident of Winterset, Iowa, expressed that the topic of abortion is of great importance to him. He stated that he would reconsider his decision to caucus for Trump on Monday if the former president were to change his stance and support the pro-choice movement.

Downes implored his party to not neglect their stance against abortion rights.

According to the speaker, presidents who support the pro-life stance have been successful in elections, including Ronald Reagan, the Bushes, and Donald Trump. Despite this, there are still rumors that these victories will be overturned, but the speaker believes this idea should be put to rest.

However, it seems that Downes’ perspective is not shared by many.

Cindy Leonhart, 68, was seen wearing a DeSantis button on her shirt following the governor’s speech last Friday. While she does not support legal abortion, she stated that it is not a determining factor for her.

During the Iowa campaign, DeSantis and other primary contenders expressed criticism towards Trump for not supporting a nationwide ban on abortion. Trump has emphasized his role as president in appointing Supreme Court justices who played a part in overturning Roe v. Wade. However, he has also stated that Republicans should not limit themselves to positions that are unpopular with the majority of the public. He believes that the Supreme Court has given those who oppose abortion the ability to negotiate restrictions in their own states.

DeSantis and other Republican candidates are now emphasizing the importance of showing “compassion” towards women. When questioned about the six-week ban he recently enacted in Florida, DeSantis defended the law on Fox News, stating that it protects life and is a compassionate way to respect and protect that life in the future.

Haley, the ex-U.N. ambassador and former governor of South Carolina, has stated multiple times that she would approve any national laws limiting abortion if chosen as president. However, she believes that Republicans may not have a sufficient number of seats or allies within their party to successfully pass such restrictions.

During a recent Fox News event, Haley, the sole female candidate in the Republican primary, emphasized the importance of discussing, rather than vilifying, a particular issue by humanizing it.

During his own Fox News town hall on Wednesday night, Trump claimed responsibility for “terminating” Roe and expressed support for a woman opposed to abortion who questioned him on the issue. He stated that he appreciated her perspective, but emphasized the need to win elections.

He criticized DeSantis’ restriction on abortions after six weeks for causing the governor’s approval ratings to remain low, stating, “Many women are not aware of their pregnancy within five or six weeks. I want to find a solution that will satisfy everyone.”

Angela Roemerman, who participated in a Haley event last week, identified herself as being in favor of protecting the sanctity of human life. However, she expressed her disapproval of the negative and divisive nature of abortion politics.

The 56-year-old from Solon, Iowa stated that it was previously a concern for them, but now it is not a pressing matter.

She stated that women, in general, are becoming more knowledgeable about birth control and understanding how everything functions.

During a rally in Newton on Saturday, Trump did not address the topic on stage. However, his campaign distributed flyers highlighting his court appointments and featuring a statement from his former Vice President Mike Pence in 2020, praising him as “the most pro-life president in history.” Pence, who Trump has repeatedly criticized for not attempting to overturn his loss in the 2020 election, withdrew from the primary last year after disagreeing with Trump’s lack of support for a nationwide abortion ban.

According to Steve Scheffler, who serves as the Iowa GOP’s Republican National Committeeman and is also the president of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, the topic of Roe v. Wade would likely have more significance in the current presidential election if it had not been overturned by the Supreme Court.

However, Scheffler noted that Iowa voters may perceive that the court’s decision and a legislation enacted by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in 2020 prohibiting abortion after six weeks may have satisfied their concerns on the issue.

Scheffler stated that this is a crucial matter for evangelical voters, given the current situation in Iowa. However, there may be other pressing issues at hand.

Dan Corbin of Cedar Falls, the voter who put DeSantis on the spot at his town hall, said afterward that whether Republicans want to talk about it or not, Democrats have made it clear they will press the issue in 2024.

Corbin, who intends to participate in a caucus for Haley, stated that he appreciates the manner in which she addresses the issue. He also believes that Republicans should take a strategic approach rather than demonizing women who are faced with making a difficult decision.

He stated that he does not support abortion in any capacity, but believes it will decrease the appeal of the Republican party.

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This report was contributed to by Meg Kinnard, Jill Colvin, and Nathan Ellgren in Des Moines, Iowa, and Jonathan Cooper in Phoenix, from the Associated Press.