Planned Parenthood Launches Campaign To Support Political Candidates Who Support Abortion Rights

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 23 Jan 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Planned Parenthood Federation of America on Tuesday -- the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade -- announced that it will launch a $10 million campaign aimed at aiding political candidates who support abortion rights, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Journal, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund "One Million Strong" campaign represents the first time PPFA has launched an independent campaign to elect candidates who support abortion rights.

The campaign will run political advertisements for candidates, as well as organize paid staffers and volunteers to seek votes. According to the Journal, the group decided to launch the campaign because it believes that reproductive rights are "under assault" by Republicans. PPFA President Cecile Richards, who will lead the campaign, said "it's clear that we need to step into the electoral arena" in order to "keep" PPFA clinics open. Historically, the organization has not played a role in elections, first endorsing a presidential candidate, John Kerry (D), in 2004. In 2006, PPFA backed a handful of Democratic candidates for governor.

Richards added that she believes the group will be able to rally young, unmarried Democratic women to vote for presidential and congressional candidates who support abortion rights. About 70% of Planned Parenthood clients are between ages 18 and 29, according to the group. "Women voters and young adults already trust Planned Parenthood's health information -- and this year they'll be able to rely on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund for election information," Richards said. In addition, the group has a database of nearly four million people, a "potent political tool" to reach its target audience, the Journal reports.

According to the Journal, the abortion-rights groups EMILY's List and NARAL Pro-Choice America plan to launch similar efforts. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a 501(c)4 organization (Mullins, Wall Street Journal, 1/22).

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