Response to Roe: State Organization and Development; NRLC State Affiliates: Grassroots RTL Power.

"Whither the Democratic Party" is a recurring feature every time the party's embrace of abortion costs it another slew of seats in Congress and the Presidency. But when a political party is as tied to the Abortion Establishment's hip as Democrats are, pro-lifers take it with a grain of salt when a few prominent Democrats wonder aloud how to "handle" the abortion issue.

Not that the party shouldn't quickly jettison its militant support for abortion, as Professor Keith Cassidy's analysis on page 14 illustrates. The party's abortion-forever-and-always position has pushed out tens of millions of pro-lifers, whose departure has seriously weakened the party.

But even if some prominent Democrats are moderately sincere, having sold its birthright as a "party of the little guy" to win the support of NARAL and NOW and Planned Parenthood, for now the national Democratic Party will only make conciliatory-sounding gestures.

More quietly but just as regularly is another post-election feature. In panels you see aired on C-SPAN prominent Democratic Party strategists will demonstrate a grudging admiration for the one asset money can't buy pro-abortion Democrats - - the Pro-Life Movement's grassroots strength.

Pro-lifers have two prominent assets. The cause they champion is right and just, and they have an unrivaled presence in cities and towns and hamlets across the nation. But how has that come to pass?

While each NRLC state affiliate is different, there are many commonalities. With respect to importance, explains Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Executive Director Scott Fischbach, at the top "is identifying pro-lifers and educating local chapters whose day-to-day work is critical to success."

Fischbach told NRL News that MCCL has 241 chapters, 77,000 contributing families, and 500,000 identified pro-life households. "More than ever MCCL reaches out to newcomers to find out where they stand on abortion," he said. If they oppose abortion, they are invited to join MCCL.