The 'dear, close family relative' whose death by 'illegal' abortion made Romney go pro-choice re-emerges (and will she hurt his bid for the White House?)



Death in the family: Ann Keenan was only 21 when she died due to complications from a botched abortion

A family abortion tragedy in Mitt Romney’s past may become a divisive issue in his campaign if it is targeted by President Obama this summer.

The younger sister of Romney’s brother-in-law died in 1963 from complications after an unlawful abortion procedure went horribly awry.

The incident reportedly left Romney - a teenager at the time - shaken to the core, and helped him form the opinion that a medically safe option for abortions should be legal.

He maintained that stance in a 1994 debate with then-Massachusetts Sen Ted Kennedy, when he told the story of his 'dear, close family relative' for the first time.

But months before Romney set out on his presidential bid last year, he made a clear about-face on the issue of abortion, declaring that he was pro-life, except in issues of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother, according to Politifact .



In a report last year, Salon.com revealed the young woman’s identity as Ann Hartman Keenan, the younger sister of Loren Keenan - who married Romney’s older sister Margo Lynn.

A 'recent criminal abortion' is listed on Keenan's death certificate, which is dated about 10 years before Roe v. Wade made the procedure legal.



The story is back in the news today as the National Enquirer reports that could cost the Romney campaign as the November presidential election creeps closer.

A political insider told the tabloid: 'Mitt will defend his pro-life position to the hilt, but his political opponents will no doubt claim he only changed his stance to ap­peal to the party base.

'There's a very real concern in his camp that he could be pushed into a corner over this.'

Flipped on the issue? Mitt Romney, pictured today in Washington, D.C., was said to be struck by Keenan's death, and became pro-choice, until last year

Illegal: Keenan's death was attributed to a 'criminal' abortion on her death certificate

At the time, Romney was just 16 years old and his father George was the governor of Michigan.

The Enquirer reported that the incident was swept under the rug to protect the elder Romney politically.



Meanwhile, both Mitt Romney and President Obama will be campaigning on Thursday in Ohio, which is viewed as a key toss-up state in the presidential race.

Family politics: Mitt Romney (left) is pictured with his father George and mother Lenore in 1962, one year before Ann Keenan's death

On the trail: Both Obama and Romney will be in Ohio on Thursday - the first time the two presidential candidates will campaign in the same state



It will be the first time that the political foes campaigned in the same state.