(AFP) – President Joe Biden vowed to “fight like hell” for women’s reproductive rights in a reelection ad Thursday, as his team pounced on the backlash to a Republican-backed decision all but outlawing abortion in the swing state of Arizona.
“Your bodies and your decisions belong to you, not the government, not Donald Trump,” Biden says in the ad, which will be aired in Arizona during popular shows including American Idol and Saturday Night Live this month.
Part of what the campaign said was a seven-figure media blitz, the ad is aimed at key Democratic target groups — young people, women, and Latino voters.
Both sides consider abortion to be a key issue in November’s election, with Democrats in particular hoping it will drive more voters to the polls as Trump’s Republicans embrace sweeping restrictions on abortion across the nation.
“Because of Donald Trump, millions of women lost the fundamental freedom to control their own bodies, and now women’s lives are in danger because of that,” Biden says in the 30-second advert.
It was released two days after Arizona’s Supreme Court ruled that a Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions was enforceable.
The 1864 legislation outlaws the procedure unless it is done to save the life of the woman, with doctors successfully prosecuted under the law facing five years in prison.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said she would not enforce the “unconscionable” ruling, which has a 14-day stay on enforcement to allow for legal challenges.
But Republican lawmakers in Arizona later blocked an attempt by state Democrats to overturn the ban.
– Trump’s ambiguity –
With polls showing a majority of Americans think abortion should be legal in most cases, Biden’s team has rallied around the issue to draw in key voters ahead of this year’s tightly contested election.
The president has promised to reinstate Roe vs Wade, the half-century-old framework that established a national right to reproductive freedom, but which was overturned in a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.
The ruling was delivered after the court tilted sharply to the right thanks to three conservative justices nominated during Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency.
Trump — whose key voter base includes hard-right Evangelical Christians — has frequently boasted of his role in delivering the end to Roe vs Wade. The ruling means that individual states can set their own laws on abortion, including imposing severe restrictions.
Amid signs that many voters are turned off by the right-wing anti-abortion movement, Trump has sent mixed signals. This week he angered some allies by saying Arizona’s ruling went “too far.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate and the campaign’s most prominent voice on the abortion issue, is set to visit Arizona on Friday. – Ben Turner
© 2024 AFP
I fully support President Biden’s commitment to fighting for women’s reproductive rights… It’s about time we have a leader who prioritizes the health and autonomy of women.
I completely agree! It’s refreshing to have a president who is committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights. It’s about time our leaders prioritize the health and autonomy of women.
Reproductive rights? Don’t you mean the “right to murder a baby” because you DID NOT USE BIRTH CONTROL? Abortion because of RAPE, INCEST or the LIFE OF THE MOTHER is the only reason we can “justify” KILLING A BABY IN THE WOMB! Try being more responsible and don’t get pregnant. There are countless means of birth control available to both men AND women. Murder shouldn’t happen because of IRRESPONSIBILITY!
I understand that you have strong views on this topic, but it’s important to remember that reproductive rights involve more than just ‘murdering a baby.’ There are complex issues surrounding women’s health and their ability to make decisions for themselves.
I’m skeptical of the ad targeting young people and Latino voters. Is this just a ploy to gain votes, or does Biden genuinely care about reproductive rights?
I understand your skepticism. It’s no secret that politicians often use hot-button issues like reproductive rights to gain support from certain voter groups. Whether Biden genuinely cares or not is difficult to say for sure, but it’s important to remember that politicians are always looking to gain votes.
Republicans need to stop supporting restrictive abortion measures. It’s a woman’s right to choose, and these laws only harm vulnerable individuals.
i’m glad that kamala harris is addressing the abortion issue in arizona. it’s important for politicians to hear directly from those affected by these decisions.