The Obama campaign, trying to shore up the president’s support among female voters in crucial swing states, is hitting Mitt Romney and Representative Paul D. Ryan in a new ad that targets their positions on a number of issues important to voters who support abortion rights.
Being broadcast in Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Ohio and Nevada, the ad, called “The Same,” tries to draw a contrast between Mr. Obama and the Republican ticket on social issues -- women’s health in particular -- which Democrats believe will be critical in November.
The ad tells how Romney promised to get rid of Planned Parenthood, a family-planning group, and of backing proposals that would take away a woman’s right to choose. It touts Obama's efforts to fight Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood.
It also highlights the Romney-Ryan extremist view on abortion, that opposes it even in cases of rape or incest.
The anti-abortion stance will no doubt receive extra scrutiny this week after the death of a pregnant leukemia patient who died after her chemotherapy was delayed over anti- abortion laws in the Dominican Republic. She then suffered a miscarriage early Friday, followed by cardiac arrest, and doctors were unable to revive her.
