Cold Feet

South Dakota's proposed banning of nearly all abortions fails by 1 vote.

The defeat of the bill, after the governor's recommended changes had passed the House 52-16, left several abortion opponents in the Senate gallery shaking their heads and an advocate of abortion rights smiling as the 17-18 vote tally was read.

A count of 18 was necessary to agree with the style-and-form veto.

"This just hurts; it's terrible," said Leslee Unruh, founder of the Alpha Center in Sioux Falls and an abortion opponent. "Women from across the country have called for this bill to be passed."