Election 2008: Abortion

West Virginia is reporting a 22 percent rise in the number of abortions performed in the state in 2006, the latest year for available figures.

"The rise still leaves West Virginia with one of the lowest abortion rates in the country, " The Associated Press reports, and "also represents a slight blip in what has been a marked decline in abortions performed in the state since the late 1990s."

But the increase has helped bring the issue to the race for governor. Republican challenger Russ Weeks alleges the incumbent Democrat, Gov. Joe Manchin, has been paying "lip service" to anti-abortion forces since taking office in 2005. "Manchin says his record opposing abortion speaks for itself," AP's article said.