The Biden campaign is making a strategic move by sending Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden to battleground states in the upcoming days to focus on the issue of abortion. This political push comes as the country marks two years since the Dobbs decision, which overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a woman’s right to choose.
Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh and Lancaster in Pennsylvania on Sunday. Pennsylvania is a key battleground state that Trump won by a significant margin in the previous election. Vice President Harris, on the other hand, will be campaigning in Arizona and Maryland on Monday, both of which have competitive Senate races.
The Biden campaign has announced plans for over 50 events nationwide in the coming days to address the Dobbs ruling, with a particular emphasis on battleground states. These events include appearances by Harris, Mrs. Biden, a tour in Wisconsin with Senator Elizabeth Warren, and gatherings with women who have been affected by restrictive abortion laws in Republican-led states.
Abortion has emerged as a top issue for voters, and the Biden-Harris team is seizing this moment to rally support for reproductive rights, highlight the stakes in the upcoming general election, draw a contrast with Republicans on the issue, and hold former President Donald Trump accountable for the surge in abortion restrictions nationwide.
During her campaign stop in Arizona, Vice President Harris will shed light on the impact of reproductive freedom limitations on Latino communities. Arizona is home to 1.3 million eligible Latino voters, constituting a significant portion of the electorate. Harris is also expected to address concerns about threats to contraception and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and suggest that Trump could potentially enact a national ban on these procedures.
On the campaign trail, Harris has consistently made reproductive rights a focal point and has frequently attributed the rise in abortion bans to the policies of the previous administration. She has cautioned voters that a second term for Trump would only exacerbate the situation, as he has openly expressed support for a federal ban on abortion.
In a recent campaign event in Florida, Harris warned that Trump’s allies in Congress are actively working towards passing a national abortion ban, which would effectively outlaw the procedure in all states. Despite Trump’s earlier musings about a 15-week abortion ban, he has since backtracked on the idea, stating that the issue should be left to individual states. However, Harris remains steadfast in her belief that Trump could still pursue a national ban if given the opportunity.
As the first debate between Biden and Trump approaches, Harris is expected to assert that the former president will be put on the defensive when the topic of abortion is raised. Harris has been vocal in her opposition to abortion restrictions and has vowed to protect women’s reproductive rights at all costs.
Since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Harris has actively engaged in discussions and events aimed at raising awareness about the importance of preserving access to safe and legal abortion. With the general election looming, the Biden campaign is mobilizing its resources to ensure that the issue of abortion remains at the forefront of voters’ minds and to galvanize support for their pro-choice platform.
