The Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed President Obama on Wednesday, marking only the third time the group has endorsed a presidential candidate.
In announcing the decision, the group also launched an ad buy in Florida, Iowa, Virginia, and the District of Columbia with a 30-second spot that slams Romney for his “out of touch” and “harmful” positions on women’s health.
The ad shows different clips of Romney vowing to repeal federal funding for Planned Parenthood and wanting to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ad concludes that "Mitt Romney is out of touch and wrong for women.”
This is the first round of ads from the group in the current election cycle, in which the group says it plans on spending $1.4 million. The ad will run through June 19 on broadcast and cable.
“President Obama understands the health and economic challenges women face – and has fought to address them by expanding health care for women, including access to birth control without co-pays and preventive care including cancer screenings; fighting for equal pay for women; and standing up to protect a woman’s ability to make her own personal medical decisions,” the group said.
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, defended the ad, saying the former Massachusetts governor has been clear in his opposition to abortion rights and the funding of Planned Parenthood.
“Five million in this country rely on family planning services, lifesaving cancer screenings through the national family planning program,” Richards said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “He's pledged to get rid of that. I just think it shows he's out of touch.”
Romney consistently polls lower than the president among female voters, showing a clear gender gap going into the election in November. Romney’s wife, Ann, however, has gone on the trail to try to sway those voters.
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