Anti-abortion group launches digital ads to support Hyde-Smith

Anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List is jumping into the Mississippi Senate race with a five-figure digital ad campaign targeting Democrat Mike Espy.

Espy is facing a runoff election against incumbent freshman Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith on Nov. 27.

Women Speak Out PAC, which is a partner of the group, is releasing the ads targeting inconsistent pro-life voters. The ads attack Espy for being “too extreme” for Mississippi because of his support for abortion.

“Mike Espy claims to oppose abortion, but his record of supporting legislation to impose abortion on demand through birth across the nation speaks louder than words,” SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “SBA List is reaching out to Mississippi voters who might not be aware of this critical runoff election to educate them about Espy’s extremism and the importance of voting pro-life.”

Hyde-Smith was appointed in April to succeed Sen. Thad Cochran after he retired. Hyde-Smith is favored in the race, but the last-second participation of such a prominent anti-abortion group underscores the competitiveness of the race.

Hyde-Smith has been under fire in recent days for saying she would be in the front row of a “public hanging” if invited. She has repeatedly refused to answer questions about the comments, instead pointing to a statement where she clarified her comments were made in jest.  

New photos have also surfaced of her posing for a photograph wearing a Confederate cap and holding a rifle.

Several companies, including Walmart, requested that their donations to Hyde-Smith’s campaign be refunded because of the comment. Walmart donated $2,000 to Hyde-Smith’s campaign on Nov. 18.