COMMENTARY/EXCERPTS

Dukakis, who had his best moment in the second presidential debate when he argued that the decision to abort must ultimately belong to the woman herself, would likely name Supreme Court justices who share that view. In that case, it might be difficult to assemble the five justices necessary to rehear Roe vs. Wade, the case that legalized abortion in this country.

But Bush, on record as a right-to-lifer and under pressure from the Republican right to show his conservative mettle, would almost certainly fill any Supreme Court vacancies with people who share his anti-abortion attitude.

I don’t suggest that the presidential election should turn on the single issue of abortion rights. But it does seem clear to me that if Bush is elected, Roe is dead.