Republicans should give up on abortion.

[Ogre Mage]

Actually, from an objective standpoint, I think the Republican Party would be smarter to give up on gay rights rather than abortion.  

I've looked at several polls which suggest that there is high support for gay rights among Gen X and Gen Y -- more so than with boomers and way more than with senior citizens.  Clearly the change is coming and the Republican Party would be wise to get ahead of the curve.  Failing to do so makes them look out of touch and backward.  In the future we will be able to remind those voters that the GOP was very slow on the issue.

I have not seen a similar trend regarding abortion rights.  It is as controversial among Gen X and Gen Y as it was among our elders, suggesting there will be pro-life base in the future.

[Ogre Mage]

Older people vote HELLA more than younger people.  I don't think it's smartest just to model your party platform on what 18-40 year olds want the most...

That's true, but I do think that in a fairly short amount of time we have seen significant movement in public perception of gay rights.  A majority now favors civil unions, although not gay marriage.  Anti-discrimination laws are widely accepted and the Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas. Then there are the recent cultural markers -- Ellen, Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, etc.   And lets face it, those elderly voters probably won't be living for much longer.

But as Smash said, I wasn't suggesting that the GOP should start hosting drag show fundraisers (amusing as that would be). 

I wrote a paper on Roe vs. Wade as a college undergraduate and have been observing the abortion debate for some time.  I haven't seen similar movement.  As someone who is pro-choice, I see no end to the battle in sight.