GOP’s Gardner reverses position on ‘personhood’

Republican Rep. Cory Gardner says he’s changed his position and now opposes measures to grant a fertilized egg the same legal protections as a person.

Gardner previously supported ballot measures in Colorado to grant personhood status to fetuses. Critics said the initiatives would outlaw not just abortion, but some forms of contraception too.

Gardner is challenging Democratic Sen Mark Udall. He told the Denver Post on Friday that he now realizes the measures do block some birth control and he no longer supports them. The congressman remains opposed to abortion rights.

He compared his change to Udall’s current support of gay marriage. But Udall says Gardner is being an opportunist and cannot be trusted.