Mitt Romney describes abortion as an issue more relevant to the legal system than the presidential election. “This is a matter in the courts,” the Republican candidate told CBS News on Monday. “It’s been settled for some time in the courts.”

But the current campaign is replete with evidence that abortion remains a vibrant political issue. Candidates and outside groups have poured at least $16.8 million into abortion-related advertising during the 2012 cycle, more than two-thirds of which has come from the Obama campaign and its allies.