Steyer’s climate group hits Gardner on ‘personhood’ support

Billionaire Tom Steyer’s climate change super-PAC is targeting Republican Senate candidate Rep. Cory Gardner (Colo.) for supporting restrictions on abortions and birth control.

The surprising ad from NextGen Climate Action, which has focused on making climate change a priority in the midterms, comes as polls show Gardner pulling ahead of Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.).

At issue in the ad is Gardner’s support of a so-called “personhood” measure, which would give legal rights to a fertilized human egg, effectively outlawing abortion and some forms of birth control.

{mosads}The ad, titled “Deception II,” slams Gardner for backing a personhood initiative in Colorado, along with a federal measure. It accuses him of misleading voters over his stance.

Gardner said in June that he changed his mind on the state initiative after listening to voters, and says a federal personhood bill does not exist.

In the ad, NextGen says Gardner is a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which groups like Factcheck.org consider a “personhood bill.”

“Though Congressman Gardner claims to prioritize women’s health, his record indicates the opposite,” said Abby Leeper, spokeswoman for NextGen Climate Colorado. 

“He’s led an eight year crusade to ban abortions and common forms of birth control. Gardner can try to deceive voters and run from his record but history doesn’t lie. He’s not the leader Colorado families deserve,” Leeper added.

The ad, which will start running in the Colorado Springs and Denver markets, isn’t the first time NextGen has targeted voters on issues other than global warming.

The group’s ad buy comes with fewer than two weeks before Election Day. A recent poll found Gardner with a 6-percentage-point lead over Udall, whom NextGen Climate supports.