Opponents of abortion and race-based affirmative action have had more setbacks than victories so far this political season as they try to place measures with a strong pull for conservative voters on the ballots of numerous states this November.

Anti-abortion supporters submitted more than 131,000 signatures to place a measure on Colorado's November ballot that would define a fertilized human egg as a person - a tactic some hope could neutralize the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.