Let's turn now to the historic week in politics to take a deeper look at the first debate

of the Republican presidential primary, and the issue shaping the race were joined now

by Washington Post columnist Gary Abernathy, who's based in Ohio, and Sarah Smarsh,

she's a freelance journalist, based in Kansas.

Both David Brooks and Jonathan K. Partt are away tonight.

Welcome to you both.

So let's delve right into the issues the GOP presidential candidates clashed Wednesday

night over whether the next president should sign into law a federal abortion ban.

This is a major issue dividing the candidates, even as all of them identify as pro-life.

Here's that key exchange between Nikki Haley and Mike Pence.

When you're talking about a federal ban, be honest with the American people.

I am being honest.

We haven't had 45 pro-life senators in over 100 years, so no Republican president can

ban abortions anymore than a Democrat president can ban all those state laws.

Don't make women feel like they have to decide on this issue.

When you know we don't have 60 Senate votes in the House, I...

70% of the American people support legislation.

But 70% of the Senate does not.

Gary Abernathy, why haven't Republicans, excuse me, been able to rally around a single

strategy on abortion more than a year after they were successful in having the Supreme

Court overturned row?

Yeah, I think that's a good question, Jeff.

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