Which Republican politician started the abortion issue in their campaign?

Question

I wanted to know the first Republicans to add this to their platform, is sure has been working.

Answer 1

I would have to guess Gerald Ford. He was the first Republican to run for President after Roe v. Wade. He was a supporter of a Constitutional Amendment that would allow the States to decide if they would allow abortion or not (basically, pre-RvW days).

In reality, there isn't anything a President can do about abortion other than appoint justices to the Supreme Court that would vote to overturn RvW. But there would have to be a majority to overturn a previous decision, which, historically, has been very difficult to do.

Answer 2

All of them since abortion was legalized.