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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-try-find-new-term-life-stave-electoral-losses-rcna103924

Republican strategists are exploring a shift away from pro-life messaging on abortion after consistent Election Day losses for the GOP when reproductive rights were on the ballot.

At a closed-door meeting of Senate Republicans this week, the head of a super PAC closely aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., presented poll results that suggested voters are reacting differently to commonly used terms like pro-life and pro-choice in the wake of last years Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, said several senators who were in the room.

The polling, which NBC News has not independently reviewed, was made available to senators Wednesday by former McConnell aide Steven Law and showed that pro-life no longer resonated with voters.

What intrigued me the most about the results was that pro-choice and pro-life means something different now, that people see being pro-life as being against all abortions ... at all levels, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said in an interview Thursday.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said the polling made it clear to him that more specificity is needed in talking about abortion.

Many voters think [pro-life] means youre for no exceptions in favor of abortion ever, ever, and pro-choice now can mean any number of things. So the conversation was mostly oriented around how voters think of those labels, that theyve shifted. So if youre going to talk about the issue, you need to be specific, Hawley said Thursday.

You cant assume that everybody knows what it means, he added. They probably dont.

Abortion is now banned in 14 states, and several others have pursued restrictions. Eleven states, including Missouri, have enacted abortion bans with no exceptions for rape and incest.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., summarized Wednesdays meeting as being focused on pro-baby policies.

Asked whether senators were encouraged to use a term other than pro-life, Young said his pro-baby descriptor was just a term of my creation to demonstrate my concern for babies.

Senators who attended Laws presentation said he encouraged Republicans to be as specific as possible when they describe their positions on abortion, highlighting findings that he said could have a negative impact on elections. Many senators in attendance represent states where Republican-led legislatures are pursuing abortion restrictions.

People require more in-depth discussions; you cant get away with a label anymore, said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. What weve learned is you have to dive in and talk to people about very specifically where you are on that subject if youre running for public office.