"Is this the right time to proceed with legislation when we still have five justices who have suggested they will vote to uphold Roe?"

He strongly believes in women's right to make decisions about their health care, without interference by the government, and upholds Roe v. Wade.

He said that it had been difficult for him, given his strong beliefs, to uphold Roe v. Wade while he was president.

The 1988 loser pledged to nominate justices who would uphold Roe v. Wade; the winner made clear his desire to see the decision overturned.

Abortion-rights forces all but acknowledged that they now had a more complicated task in rallying voters after a decision that explicitly upheld Roe.

If the Supreme Court upholds Roe, they have argued, the damage for those opposed to abortion rights will be grave.

When they upheld Roe v. Wade.

"The nominee must commit to upholding Roe," she said in an interview.

Over 20 cases have addressed abortion law in the United States, all of which upheld Roe v. Wade.

In upholding Roe, Kennedy and O'Connor expressed great concern for the legitimacy of the court.