Video of a committee meeting went viral. A radio interview with Governor Ralph Northam fueled the debate. And lawmakers faced off in Capitol Square.

A bill that would ease restrictions on late term abortions sparked national debate this week and the controversy will linger.

Virginia Tech Professor and WDBJ7 Political Analyst Bob Denton says the uproar over the abortion bill will continue into the fall campaign.

And in a year when low turnout is likely, he says the issue has the potential to tip the balance in some of the closely-contested elections.

"This is just one way that the Republicans have been fortunate to find something that they can rally around, stimulate their base, certainly appeal to evangelicals," Denton told WDBJ7. "It might cut into some of the independent voting as well. and certainly in the low turnout in the fall, races in a year that are typically in the 30- 35 percent range, gives Republicans some advantage."

And Denton says the abortion issue could make it difficult for some of the first-term Democrats who came in during the blue wave of 2017.

He says some of the 15 Democrats who flipped seats in the House that were held by Republicans could be in jeopardy if this issue continues to energize the Republican base.