Other pro-life politicians — including Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, and businesswoman Carly Fiorina — said they’re eager to discuss protection of women and unborn children in their messages to American voters. Paul, who last week challenged reporters to begin asking questions of pro-choice politicians, received a standing ovation before talking about his pro-life views. Later in the evening, Dannenfelser noted Paul’s “unapologetic” pro-life stance.

“That is confidence. That is going on offense. That is believing your ideas and advancing them in the public square,” Dannenfelser said. “The script has been flipped since 2012. We were on defense, now we’re on offense.”

The politicians promoted the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, legislation under consideration by Congress that would protect unborn children past 20 weeks of pregnancy. They noted that unborn children being operated on in the womb receive anesthesia and are treated as patients and yet unborn children at the same age can be killed without any anesthesia administered for their pain. They noted that only seven countries permit elective abortion as late as the United States does and that two of those countries are human rights abusers China and North Korea. Graham said he wasn’t comfortable with the company the United States is in and he’s “dying to have this debate” with his abortion rights supporting colleagues.