NC governor makes last-minute bid to persuade a Republican to sustain his veto on abortion-restricting bill

Gov. Roy Cooper, who plans to reject a bill than bans abortions past the first trimester, is making last-minute pleas to convince a Republican lawmaker to sustain his veto.

Cooper singled out Reps. Tricia Cotham and John Bradford of Mecklenburg County and Rep. Ted Davis and Sen. Michael Lee of New Hanover County after Republicans fast-tracked legislation last week to impose more stringent limits beyond the current 20 weeks. He plans to veto the bill Saturday at a rally in Raleigh, but party-line votes for passage and assurances from legislative leaders indicate it will likely be overridden.