11.   These developments took place against a background of growing activism on the abortion issue in the country at large.

12.   Along with most other Republican presidential candidates, he has sought to play down the abortion issue.

13.   Already, the abortion issue may have clouded the prospects of one candidate, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, to become head of the National Institutes of Health.

14.   And even the abortion issue could cause a fuss.

15.   And how do you think she feels today about the abortion issue?

16.   And observers say the superheated abortion issue will make such a verdict even more difficult to obtain.

17.   And Kerry campaign aides note that Scalia did not take a clear position in his confirmation hearings on the abortion issue.

18.   And the high court once again had to wrestle with the abortion issue.

19.   And the politics of the abortion issue has changed.

20.   And the tone of the campaign got nastier for everyone, with the abortion issue emerging again as the great divide.