Murray Highlights Brown's Praise of Scalia

Democrats are seizing on Scott Brown's comment during last night's Massachusetts Senate debate that he considered Antonin Scalia his model Supreme Court Justice, and seeking to tie it to the Republican senator's positions on women's issues.

On a conference call, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Patty Murray called Brown's answer "really a shockingly revealing moment and it speaks volumes" about his values.

Calling confirmation of Supreme Court justices "one of our most important jobs as a senator," Murray asserted that Scalia's votes "move this country backwards," and criticized his opposition to Roe vs. Wade and his belief that there's no constitutional right to birth control. Murray said his views have a "tremendous effect on the lives of women in Massachusetts and across the country." She then noted Brown's co-sponsoring of the Blunt Amendment and vote against the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Women's issues have been a frequent focus in the race. Brown was the first to call on Missouri GOP Rep. Todd Akin to resign from the Senate race after his comments on "legitimate rape." In the aftermath of Akin's remarks, Warren sought to tie them to Brown and to the national GOP agenda. In September, Brown released an advertisement touting his record on women's issues and his support from women. Warren brought up Brown's record on women's issues and vote against Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan during their first debate, leading him to admonish her to "stop scaring women, professor." A recent Boston Globe poll that had the Democratic candidate edging the senator by a few points poll showed Warren leading Brown by 12 points among women voters. Meanwhile, Murray was also asked on the call about the Maine Senate race, where the DSCC has made an ad buy but hasn't endorsed Democratic nominee Cynthia Dill and is assumed to favor Independent former Gov. Angus King, who leads in polls. "We've been very clear in the Maine race," said Murray in response to the question. "We have not endorsed in that race."

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