Braley hits Ernst on abortion, ‘personhood’

Rep. Bruce Braley’s (D-Iowa) campaign is out with a new ad attacking Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R) “radical ideas” on abortion and support for a state personhood amendment.

{mosads}”In the state Senate, Ernst sponsored an amendment to outlaw abortion even in cases of rape or incest. An Ernst bill would have banned many common forms of birth control. Ernst even wants criminal punishment for doctors who perform an abortion,” the ad’s narrator says before Ernst appears saying, “the provider should be punished, if there were a personhood amendment.”

Braley’s campaign is trying to define Ernst as an unbending conservative and drive a wedge between her and suburban female voters on social issues in what’s turning into an increasingly negative race.

Democrats often use personhood amendments as campaign fodder because many doctors say it’s unclear whether morning-after pills and other contraceptives would be banned if such amendments passed.

Polls show a tight contest between the two candidates.