During the taping of Channel 56's (WLVI-TV) "Let's Talk Politics," one difference came when [John Lakian] said he would support federal funding for abortion services if that matter came to a vote. By contrast, [Romney] said he opposed mandating that states provide abortion as part of Medicaid, preferring instead to leave that for states to decide.

Asked about State Treasurer Joseph Malone's endorsement of Romney, Lakian said Malone, an abortion opponent, had backed Romney to reward "the pro-life contingent that was very much in Mitt's camp" at the convention.

After Romney's overwhelming win at the Republican convention May 14, which kept Lakian to a spare 16 percent of the vote, Lakian said he would soon be drawing important differences on the issues with his opponent.