When Barack Obama and John McCain offered their sharply divergent views on abortion this weekend at an Orange County church, it was a rare chance to hear the presidential rivals address one of the most contentious issues in American politics.
Each has sought to steer clear of the often fierce disputes between their parties on abortion, relegating it to the low ranks of campaign quarrels.
With the election being fought largely over centrist voters, the White House hopefuls have tried to reach out to those who disagree with their views on abortion.
Obama, a Democrat who supports abortion rights but reminded the audience at Saddleback Church that he wanted to make the procedure less common, has managed to make accommodations to abortion opponents without complaints from his party's base.
But McCain, who opposes abortion, has ignited new tensions with the Republican Party's conservative wing by trying to mollify those who want it to remain legal.
Despite their efforts to downplay the issue, McCain and Obama almost certainly would steer the country in opposite directions on abortion through their appointments to the Supreme Court, which may be just a conservative vote short of overturning Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.
"Whoever is elected president will have the power to fundamentally transform the future of abortion politics," said Cynthia Daniels, a political scientist at Rutgers University.
In navigating abortion politics, McCain faces a much tougher climate than Obama.
The Arizona senator sparked threats of a conservative revolt last week by saying he would not rule out Tom Ridge as a running mate just because the former Pennsylvania governor "happens to be pro-choice."
"If he selects Tom Ridge, he's going to inflict a mortal wound on his campaign," said Richard Land, who heads the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.
McCain's latest conflict with the religious right underscored his long-standing trouble inspiring enthusiasm among social conservatives. On Saturday, McCain sought to ease the friction by assuring abortion opponents that he would take their side in the White House.
"I will be a pro-life president, and this presidency will have pro-life policies," he told Pastor Rick Warren during the nationally televised forum at Warren's evangelical church.
