Abortion-Rights Opponent Cuccinelli To Run For Virginia Attorney General

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 03 Apr 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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Virginia state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R), who is opposed to abortion rights, on Monday announced he will run for state attorney general next year, the Washington Post reports. Cuccinelli is the first to announce his intent to run for the position (Gardner, Washington Post, 4/1).

In the Virginia Senate, Cuccinelli has sponsored six antiabortion measures, including one that would have required abortion clinics to meet the same construction and equipment standards as hospitals. Cuccinelli also has supported other measures aimed at restricting access to abortion in the state, the AP/Hampton Roads Daily Press reports (Lewis, AP/Hampton Roads Daily Press, 3/31).

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia in a statement issued Monday criticized Cuccinelli's opposition to abortion rights. The group "will work ... to ensure that voters understand the extreme records" of Cuccinelli and other Republicans running for executive branch positions in Virginia, Tarina Keene, executive director of the group, said. Keene said Cuccinelli, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who will run for re-election, and current Attorney General Robert McDonnell (R), who will run for governor, are "out of touch with Virginia voters, a majority of whom believe the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be a private and personal one made by a woman in consultation with her physician and family."

According to the Post, Cuccinelli likely will face competition in the primary and, if he is named the Republican nominee, in the general election. Del. Stephen Shannon (D) has openly considered running for attorney general, the Post reports (Washington Post, 4/1).

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