Newt Gingrich clarifies: life begins at fertilization

Last week, Newt Gingrich told ABC News that he believes life begins at implantation.

Today, Joe DeSantis, Communications Director for Newt 2012, told me:

To be clear, Newt believes that human life begins at conception, that is, at the moment of fertilization.

This distinction is crucial. Gingrich has said he supports Congress enacting pro-life legislation under the 14th Amendment, including legislation that would define personhood as beginning at conception.

When asked if Gingrich will be supporting this definition of conception (fertilization not implantation) in such legislation, DeSantis said: “Yes.”