{mosads}Reproductive health has taken center stage in the race for the White House as both candidates seek the support of undecided women.
Issues of abortion and contraception have made for episodes of drama on the campaign trail, as when Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) commented that victims of “legitimate” rape rarely become pregnant and Obama and Romney joined the fray.
Planned Parenthood’s political arm has been especially active in support of Obama. The group’s public funding was targeted by anti-abortion lawmakers on Capitol Hill over the last two years.
A Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday found that Obama has a 19-point advantage over Romney with women voters.
In another women’s-health push launched this week, a coalition of liberal groups is out with an online hub and social media campaign meant to “educate and activate women across the country to protect women’s reproductive care.”
The site for the “This is Personal” campaign continues the “war on women” charges often leveled at — and denied by — Republicans.
The campaign does not mention Romney or other GOP leaders by name, but cites efforts to limit abortion at the state level and block the Obama administration’s birth control mandate as evidence that “some politicians are trying to strip away a woman’s ability to make personal decisions about her own body and healthcare.”
The campaign “will equip women with the facts and tools they need to spread the word with friends – both on and offline” against “real threats being made to their reproductive health,” said NWLC Media Director Rachel Perrone, in an email to reporters.
Emily’s List, the Democratic group working to elect pro-choice women to Congress, and its independent expenditure arm, Women Vote!, also announced an effort this week to sway women voters in three competitive Senate races and four competitive House races.