When it comes to the abortion conflict in the US there's one thing most everyone agrees on: the need for common ground. The public certainly does; both pro-choice and pro-life alike. According to Faith in Public Life Poll, the vast majority (83%) of voters, including white evangelicals (86%) and Catholics (81%), believe elected leaders should work together to find ways to reduce the need for abortion. The election of Barrack Obama brought with it the promise of a new era of post-partisan politics. One of the first areas touched by the spirit of cooperation was abortion politics.

Several pro-life leaders have publicly announced a shift in their focus. Instead of seeking bans and restrictions on abortion, which have proven to have little effect on abortion rates, they are now supporting the proven effective ways to make abortion less necessary. In doing so, they have emerged as unlikely partners to pro-choice efforts, which have successfully lowered unwanted pregnancy and abortion rates worldwide. And while this common ground movement has yet to be formalized, these pro-life leaders have already won the ire of the old guard, anti-abortion establishment.

And possibly that is because the small, ragtag band of common ground hopefuls that has emerged from this election feels different than the unrealized peace-seeking upstarts of the past. For one, this time it's being called for by pro-lifers—most always its been the pro-choice camp extending the olive branch. Also, it has the support of our new President. In fact, the surge in interest in common ground seems inspired by him. When asked about abortion in the third debate, Obama predicted, "we can find some common ground."

The new breed of pro-life activist emerging from this election is motivated by results not rhetoric. Take Douglas Kmiec who has an impeccable pro-life, Catholic, and republican credentials. Kmiec has served as head of the Office of Legal Counsel for Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush and was the former Dean of the law school at The Catholic University of America. He also started "Pro-Life, Pro-Obama," a group based on the belief that the strategies detailed in the pro-choice democratic platform and this pro-choice President's policies will make abortion less necessary. The group's website has a section not found on traditional pro-life groups' websites. It's entitled "Facts on preventing abortion" and explains "Studies Show that Economic Support for Women and Families Reduces Abortion" and "Legal Status of Abortion Does Not Necessarily Impact Abortion Rates."

Catholics United is also a new pro-life group that's calling for a common ground approach to the abortion conflict. James Salt, director of Catholics United explained, "People of faith are tired of leaders who wear the pro-life label without enacting policies that actually prevent abortions. It's time for candidates and elected officials, regardless of party affiliation, to move from rhetoric to results by addressing a comprehensive strategy to address abortion in America." The group's website lists as one of its top priorities "common ground abortion reduction initiatives."

Joel Hunter board member of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of one of the nation's largest churches, explained, "We are not compromising our values, but at the same time we are finding a way we can all accomplish our agenda, or at least a piece of our agenda, together. There's got to be a way we can take some of these hot-button issues and cooperate, rather than simply keep fighting and becoming gridlocked in this hostility of the culture wars."

But there are some who seem invested in the gridlock and are unwilling to join in on common ground efforts to reduce the need for abortion. For example, none of the traditional pro-life groups have endorsed any common ground proposals. In fact, several old guard leaders have pledged opposition to common ground attempts and have even taken to seething openly over the calls for unity. Doug Johnson, of National Right to Life, called Obama's common ground approach an "Abortion Reduction Scam." Last month, Joseph Schiedler, president of the Pro-Life Action League, wrote an op-ed in USA Today arguing against common ground and told the Washington Post, "It's a sellout, as far as we are concerned. You don't have to have a lot of social programs to cut down on abortions."

Common ground is simply common sense. People who are genuinely pro-life want real results; something the current pro-life establishment and the Republican party have consistently failed to provide. The facts show that the countries with the lowest abortion rates are those with the strongest pro-choice policies. Prevention, not prosecution, and support for poor women who want, and need help, to continue their pregnancies are what works. Pro-choice advocates are eager to share this success. We long to join with those who seek progress on what has been, up until now, the most intractable issue. We can only hope the "pro-life" establishment doesn't stand in our way.