This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.The Republican Party's national conventionopens Monday in Tampa, Florida.Republican delegates will officially nominateformer Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romneyas the party's candidate for president.Democratic Party delegates will gather in Charlotte,North Carolina the following weekto nominate President Barack Obama for a second term.This week, a Republican lawmaker's commentspushed the debate about abortionto the center of the election campaign.Missouri Congressman Todd Akin is a candidatefor the United States Senate.A reporter asked him to explain his oppositionto the operation, even in cases of rape.Mr. Akin said it was his understanding from doctorsthat rape victims rarely get pregnant.He said that, in the case of what he called "legitimate rape,"the female body has ways to stop a pregnancy.And he said the rapist should be punished,not the child resulting from the attack.His comments were widely criticizedby both Democrats and Republicans.Many described them as "insensitive."President Obama and Mr. Romneywere quick to condemn the statements.OBAMA: "The views expressed were offensive. Rape is rape."ROMNEY: "His comments about rape were deeply offensive.And I can't defend what he said. I can't defend him."Congressman Akin has apologized.He even approved a political advertisement asking for forgiveness.AKIN: "Rape is an evil act.I used the wrong words in the wrong way,and for that I apologize."But some people say the apology is unlikely to stop calls from Republican leaders for him to leave the Senate race.Political observer Rhodes Cook says the issueshows the problem Republican candidates have with women voters.COOK: "They saw this being a terrible comment,one that made them by extension appearto be insensitive to women and their plight,particularly as victims of a horrendous crime like rape."Rhodes Cook and other observers saythe comments could provide more fuel for Democratic claimsthat Republicans are leading a "war on women."Republicans have faced criticism from women's groupsfor opposing abortion and rulesthat health care insurance pay for birth control.On Tuesday, Republican delegates agreedto support a call for a constitutional ban on abortionas part of their party's platform.The statement makes no exceptions for rapeor the sexual attack of a childor young person by a family member.The Democratic Party platform supports a woman's right to choose.Larry Sabato is head of the Center for Politicsat the University of Virginia.He says social issues like abortion usuallyhave a big influence on voter support.SABATO: "People have very strong feelings on both sides,and it's a single issue for a lot of people.Once they know your position on it,pro or con, pro-choice or pro-life,they decide how they're going to vote,They actually ignore economic issuesand issues of foreign policyand a whole wide range of other subjects."Both he and Rhodes Cook say it is unclear whether the commentswill have an effect on the elections in November.But they say the comments are likely to live onin Democratic political ads.And they say that if Mr. Akin continues to ignore callsto end his candidacy, the effects could be major.And that's IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English.