Although a number of the high-profile Republican women running for national office oppose abortion, conservative feminists should not make the same mistake as mainstream feminist organisations such as the National Organisation for Women and treat this single issue as a deal-breaker. One of mainstream feminism's greatest failures has been to deny women the right to hold their own opinions about abortion without being branded anti-feminist. Conservatives should differentiate themselves by eschewing demands for ideological conformity. Moreover, as social conservative issues are not predicted to be a significant factor in the 2010 elections, Republicans may risk alienating women swing voters by identifying too strongly with Sarah Palin's agenda, which she has sought to equate with "conservative feminism" itself.  

The Republican women standing for office would do their party, and their sex, a service by embracing the heterogeneity of American women, and arguing that the very best tradition of conservatism is one which embraces individual freedom for all people.