Democratic presidential candidates were pressed on their support for abortion Saturday at a first-of-its-kind forum exclusively focused on reproductive rights.

The forum, hosted by Planned Parenthood in South Carolina, presented candidates with an opportunity to stand out on an issue that’s driven the Democratic primary so far.

But the forum also highlighted differences between candidates, with some, like Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenPrivate prisons’ stocks drop on Warren pledge Overnight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights Viral photo shows Warren sitting behind Sanders on flight to Miami MORE (D-Mass.), Bernie SandersBernie SandersOvernight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights Will we ever have another veteran as president? Viral photo shows Warren sitting behind Sanders on flight to Miami MORE (I-Vt.) and Kirsten GillibrandKirsten Elizabeth GillibrandOvernight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights On The Money: S&P hits record as stocks rally on Fed cut hopes | Facebook’s new cryptocurrency raises red flags for critics | Internal IRS watchdog rips agency’s taxpayer service | Apple seeks tariff relief Gillibrand introduces bill blocking HUD rule on undocumented public housing residents MORE (N.Y.) vowing to go further than others to protect and expand abortion access.

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“I will guarantee that no matter where you live in this country, all 50 states, you will have access to legal safe abortion procedures,” Gillibrand, the first speaker, told a small audience of Planned Parenthood supporters.

Democrats and abortion rights activists want to make abortion access a key issue in the 2020 presidential election after several states this year passed bans and restrictions on the procedure.

The goal of anti-abortion groups and Republican legislators is to force the Supreme Court to overturn or weaken Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a woman’s right to an abortion.

Some candidates, including Gillibrand, Warren, Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy Jean KlobucharHillicon Valley: House panel advances election security bill | GOP senator targets YouTube with bill on child exploitation | Hicks told Congress Trump camp felt ‘relief’ after release of Clinton docs | Commerce blacklists five Chinese tech groups Overnight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights On The Money: House, Senate at odds over border bills | Senate Democrats want details on tech probes | Commerce blacklists five Chinese tech groups MORE (Minn.), New York Mayor Bill de BlasioBill de BlasioOvernight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights Candidate de Blasio the progressive, meet Mayor de Blasio the regressive Delaware Democrat criticizes Biden comments: ‘We can’t make excuses’ for not learning MORE vowed to codify that ruling into federal law to protect abortion access.

“I say it is time to go on offense with Roe vs. Wade,” Warren said.

“It’s not enough to say we’re going to rely on the court. We need to pass a federal law to make Roe vs. Wade the law.”

Candidates were given 15 minutes to answer questions from moderators and the audience, who were employees and supporters of Planned Parenthood.

The questions were easy, and the invite-only audience was friendly, giving Democrats a safe space to talk about a divisive issue.

But former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenOvernight Health Care: Key Trump drug pricing proposal takes step forward | Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic loses bid for license | 2020 Democrats to take part in Saturday forum on abortion rights Will we ever have another veteran as president? Washington braces for Trump’s next move on Iran MORE struggled and stumbled over his words and seemed to purposely avoid saying “abortion.”

Biden, a devout Catholic, personally opposes abortion and faced backlash this month saying he supported the Hyde amendment, a longstanding ban on federal funding of abortions. 

He reversed his position after facing blowback from groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Biden struggled to explain his change of heart Saturday, saying it did not fit in with his health care plan, which he has not released yet.

Asked by moderators about his “mixed record” on abortion, Biden disagreed.

“I’m not sure about the mixed record part. I’ve had 100 percent voting record” before his mic stopped working.

He and most of the other candidates explicitly promised to “eliminate” all changes President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe global economy is a soap opera, expect some plot twists Huawei sues US government over seized equipment Trump defends planned ICE deportations MORE made to the Title X Family Planning program, to make the program “rationale and reasonable.”

The changes, which a federal judge ruled Friday could go into effect, bans Title X providers from referring women from abortions and would cut funds to Planned Parenthood.

He said he would also roll back the Mexico City Policy, a ban signed by Trump on federal aid to organizations that promote or provide abortions.

Other Democrats on the stage made it clear there’s no room in the party for candidates who don’t support abortion rights.

“I think right now, given the attacks that we’re seeing in recent years, on Planned Parenthood in particular, and on abortion rights in general, I think what we can do and must do is find candidates in every state in this country and every congressional district in this country who do support absolutely a woman’s right to control her own body,” said Sanders, who said he would “substantially” increase funding for Planned Parenthood.

De Blasio, taking a veiled shot at Biden, said: Can we just be clear that if you’re a Democrat, you’re against the Hyde Amendment? Period. Period. No choice.”

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