GOP convention approves platform banning abortions

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Republicans have approved a toughly worded party platform at their national convention that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and reject federal spending as a way to heal the nation's ailing job market.

The document warns that the American Dream is at risk. It says Republicans will change the way the government spends, taxes and issues regulations.

Parties approve platforms at their conventions every four years, and much of their details end up being ignored.

But a recent poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found more people expressing interest in the platform than were interested in upcoming acceptance speeches by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Democrats are calling the GOP platform extreme and draconian.