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Abortion rights � and the possibility of the U.S. Senate taking up legislation proposed by Sen Lindsey Graham to ban abortion nationally at 15 weeks � is animating early debate in New Hampshire’s U.S Senate race.

Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, who stresses abortion rights in every election, has repeatedly seized on the specter of a national abortion ban and declared that electing Don Bolduc, her Republican challenger, would give abortion rights opponents an ally.

Hassan points to Bolduc’s past statements on abortion � including his criticism that New Hampshire’s 24-week abortion ban is too lax, and calling the overturning of Roe v Wade cause for people to “rejoice.�

“He said he would vote for any anti-choice legislation in the U.S. Senate, and that he would never compromise,� Hassan said Friday at a Concord press conference.

During his primary campaign for the Republican Senate nomination, Bolduc often expressed opposition to abortion rights, saying he would “always default for a system that protects lives from beginning to end.�

But since winning the GOP nomination, Bolduc appears to be changing his stance. He told reporters late Tuesday night that he would oppose a national abortion ban. He said that after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional right to abortion in its Dobbs ruling that the matter should be left to states.

“I believe the federal government should stay out of it,� Bolduc said Tuesday. “The federal government has its hands in too many things. Let the state’s deal with it, and that’s going to be my position.�

Hassan, meanwhile, who has voted to allow taxpayer funding of abortion as a senator, said her stance on abortion is clear: All aspects of its, including any gestational limit on procedures, should be a matter decided by women and their doctors.

“My position is that when politicians, when they try to interfere with these decisions, pose a danger to women, and that they pose a danger to women’s freedom.� Hassan said.

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