Planned Parenthood targets Dean Heller on Kavanaugh comments in ad

Planned Parenthood’s political arm is targeting vulnerable GOP Sen. Dean Heller on comments he made about the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. 

A six-figure digital ad buy focuses on Heller reportedly saying the nomination had run into a “hiccup” following Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations against Kavanaugh. 

“Let’s remind Sen. Heller that sexual assault is never a ‘hiccup,'” a narrator says in the ad. 

{mosads}According to the Nevada Independent, Heller made the comment during a “VIP” conference call arranged by the Nevada Republican Party in September. 

“I’m really grateful for the White House, for the effort of President Trump and what he has done, and the excitement that we have,” he said, according to the Independent.

“We got a little hiccup here with the Kavanaugh nomination, we’ll get through this and we’ll get off to the races,” he said.

Heller later told the Independent his comments were directed at how Democrats handled the allegations, not the allegations themselves. 

While Heller has said he’ll vote to confirm Kavanaugh, the ad encourages viewers to urge him to vote no. 

Heller is one of the most endangered Senate Republicans running for reelection in November.

Cook Political Report rates the race between Heller and Democratic candidate Jacky Rosen as a “toss up.” 

Planned Parenthood has been highly involved in the midterms, and plans to spend $20 million in key races ahead of November.