By AP/KWMU
Chicago – Republican Alan Keyes called rival Barack Obama's views on abortion "the slaveholder's position."
Keyes ripped Obama's voting record Monday during the former diplomat's first day on the campaign trail in the race for the U.S. Senate.
During a whirlwind round of broadcast interviews, Keyes said Obama violated the principle that all men are created equal by voting against an anti-abortion bill in the Illinois Senate. That legislation would have outlawed a form of late-term abortion in the state.
Obama says he voted against the late-term abortion ban in Springfield because it contained no exception to protect the life of the mother.
The race between Keyes and Obama sets up the first U.S. Senate election with two black candidates representing the major parties.
Keyes formally accepted the GOP nomination Sunday.