Abortion was legal prior to Roe vs Wade....laws varied from state to state. New York's laws were the most Liberal...by far... and it did lead to a number of people traveling to NY. That's not really unusual...there have been a number of laws on a number of topics that varied from state to state and shaped behavoir. I live on the border of OH and MI....for awhile MI was 18+ for all kinds of booze. Ohio kids went north. When MI went to 21+ but OH allowed 19+ for beer and wine, MI kids headed south. For awhile, WV had better welfare than KY....KY was giving welfare recipients $$$ if they promsed to leave the state and move to WV.
The republic survived....
Re the court and abortion. Abortion could still exist if Roe vs Wade is struck down. It simply wouldn't be a fed issue any longer. Would Roe vs Wade be struck down? History suggests otherwise....in Planned parenthood vsCasey (1992) Three Reagan/Bush appointees voted to uphold abortion rights. I'm no legal scholar...but I think the principle of Stare Decisis would make overturning Roe vs Wade a tough hill to climb.
240 is right...a plurality of women 39% in a gallup poll list abortion as their top issue. Having said that...I do think it odd to be spendng so much time on an issue that appeals to a bloc of voters that are supposed to be in your pocket already.