Vice President Harris is breathing renewed enthusiasm for Democratic efforts to rally voters around the issue of abortion, after taking over President Biden’s campaign to defeat former President Trump in November.
Both Harris and President Biden attacked Republicans when it came to abortion, but Biden – the second Catholic president elected to the Oval Office – has always been a bit squeamish on the subject, notably avoiding using the word “abortion” during most of his comments. public.
Harris, with a long history of supporting abortion access, has become the White House’s de facto voice for preserving reproductive rights since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Wade two years ago.
“I think the difference we will see with Vice President Harris … is that she will be expansive,” said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights at the progressive advocacy group SiX Action.
“I think it energizes the base,” Driver added. “I liken it to a balloon – we kind of feel deflated. I feel like your supposed nomination brought to life this balloon that we wanted to witness.”
The vice president embarked on her Reproductive Freedoms Tour earlier this year, crisscrossing the country to talk about abortion access and attack Trump for nominating judges who struck down long-standing federal abortion protections. Earlier this year, she became the first US vice president to visit an abortion clinic.
Major reproductive rights groups and their PACs were quick to rally behind Harris’ campaign this week as she tries to secure the Democratic nomination at next month’s Democratic National Convention.
Women Vote, the super PAC affiliated with EMILY’s List, released its first 30-second ad supporting Harris’ campaign on Monday, directly taking aim at Trump on abortion. “They will stop at nothing,” the text says, followed by a clip of Trump saying he “got rid of Roe v. Wade.” Wade.”
“But Kamala Harris will not back down,” he continues.
According to Nourbese Flint, president of the abortion rights group All in Action Fund, the distinction between Harris and Biden is that the vice president is “incredibly comfortable with the issue of abortion access.”
Harris’s close engagement on abortion at the state level will be a crucial tool in her arsenal to reach voters, Flint predicted.
“I’ve been in rooms with her where we’ve brought in state legislators from these really challenging states, sort of red states, and she was right there next to these legislators,” Driver said. “And then when she goes to the states and talks about abortion — especially in Arizona and North Carolina and Florida — it feels very authentic.”
Abortion remains a vulnerable issue for the Republican Party. During last week’s Republican National Convention, the word “abortion” was barely uttered during the four-day event.
“In every other modern-day Republican convention that we’ve seen, their speakers are constantly mentioning the desire to ban abortion and all this. And he was notably absent from his keynote addresses,” said Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations at Reproductive Freedom for All.
“Let’s be clear: This is not because Republicans had some kind of major reversal on abortion policy. It’s because they know this issue is politically toxic for them,” Stitzlein continued. “They know that when they talk about abortion they are losing. And with Kamala Harris as our nominee, that is not an option for them. She will bring this matter to them every day.”
Trump has refused to commit to restrictions on abortion at the federal level, repeatedly saying that should be left to the discretion of states. He made no mention of abortion in his record-long, hour-and-a-half acceptance speech at the convention.
Trump’s vice presidential pick, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), also avoided the issue at the convention, but he carries significant baggage. He previously expressed support for a national abortion ban, as well as opposition to exceptions for rape and incest.
Before being announced as Trump’s running mate, Vance gradually reshaped the way he spoke about abortion, echoing the former president’s approach.
“President Trump has been consistent in supporting the rights of states to make abortion decisions,” Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said Monday.
“Kamala Harris and the Democrats are radically out of touch with the majority of Americans in their support for abortion up to birth and even after birth, and forcing taxpayers to fund it.”
Harris’ campaign did not immediately respond when The Hill sought comment.
Driver, of SiX Action, acknowledged that Harris cannot build her reproductive rights campaign strategy solely by attacking Trump, and must present “a vision of what US politics beyond Roe really looks like.”
Christina Reynolds, senior vice president of EMILY’s List, said Harris should also highlight the stakes of the election and make clear the contrast between herself and Trump’s ticket.
“He is an existential threat to our reproductive freedom and I think we will continue to see her raise this issue,” Reynolds said. “But also, just look at what’s at stake.”
Mainstream anti-abortion groups quickly focused on Harris’ abortion record, characterizing her as overly focused on the issue.
“Harris is so committed to abortion that she can’t see anything else — including the developmental stages of children before birth or the real needs of women,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life. America. “While Joe Biden has trouble saying the word abortion, Kamala Harris shouts it.”
Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy at Students for Life of America, said: “Because ‘border czar’ Kamala’s loudest defense is on abortion, voters should ask themselves whether ending Life in the womb is something that offsets rising crime and inflation rates and general malaise.”
While these groups argue that Harris’ focus undermines other issues that voters care about, reproductive rights advocates say it is a talking point that will increase voter turnout among key demographic groups.
“This helps motivate young voters to vote Democrat; helps move women forward, including independent women; it helps move black voters,” said Reynolds of EMILY’s List. “I’m not worried about her being attacked by Republicans on this issue, because they are on the wrong side of the voters on this issue.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
