President Biden’s campaign is launching a new seven-figure ad buy centered around abortion, a centerpiece issue for his campaign. The campaign ad, titled “Prosecute,” features an OBGYN physician in Texas discussing how the state’s near-total abortion ban forced her to flee the state to get care. The ad aims to link restrictive state abortion bans to former President Donald Trump, highlighting his stance on allowing states to prosecute women who receive abortions. The ad begins airing one day after a six-week abortion ban took effect in Florida, as well as a repeal by Arizona’s legislature of an 1864 law that would have enacted a near-total abortion ban in that state.
In response to Trump’s views on abortion, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez stated that Trump approves of states surveilling, prosecuting, and punishing women for receiving reproductive care. The Biden campaign is focused on reminding voters of the stakes for women in the upcoming election if Trump has his way. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to continue her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, with a campaign stop in Pennsylvania focused on abortion access. Throughout her tour stops, Harris has blamed abortion bans on Trump, warning that a second Trump term would result in worse restrictions on abortion access.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, 21 states have enacted either near-total abortion bans or bans in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. A CBS News battleground state poll showed that at least 60% of voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin were following news about restrictive abortion bans in Arizona and Florida. However, not all voters blame Trump for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with some focusing on other issues such as the economy, democracy, and crime. Trump has expressed support for a national abortion ban bill, but in recent weeks has suggested that abortion access should be left up to the states.
During a rally in Michigan, Trump praised the overturning of Roe v. Wade and highlighted the controversy surrounding the issue. He encouraged Republicans to fight for their beliefs on abortion but also emphasized the importance of getting elected. The ad buy by President Biden’s campaign underscores the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States, with both campaigns focusing on the issue as a key factor in the upcoming election. The ads aim to mobilize voters by highlighting the potential consequences of restrictive abortion bans and linking them to the legacy of former President Donald Trump.
