MILWAUKEE — Democrats are assailing Senator J.D. Vance on the issue of abortion, saying past comments made by Donald Trump's newly-tapped running mate are evidence Republicans will pursue more abortion curbs if they win in November.

Vance has previously taken a more hardline approach on abortion than the former president, who opposes abortion but backs exceptions in cases of rape, incest or where the mother's life is in danger. Vance once implied victims of rape and incest should be required to carry pregnancies to term but he has since said he supports those exceptions.

Trump's decision to make Vance his No. 2 gave President Joe Biden's campaign a fresh opening to go after Republicans on abortion rights, which Democrats view as a galvanising issue that could attract independent voters and increase turnout in the Nov 5 election. Most opinion polls show a majority of Americans broadly back abortion rights.

Going after Vance's previously stated abortion views could help Democrats raise more doubts about where Trump stands, said Christopher Devine, co-author of a book about running mates and a professor of political science at Dayton University in Ohio.

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