President Biden’s campaign is launching a new ad buy focused on abortion, with the aim of linking restrictive state abortion laws to former President Donald Trump. The ad, titled “Prosecute,” features an OBGYN physician from Texas discussing the impact of the state’s near-total abortion ban, which was enacted after the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. The campaign hopes to highlight the threat to abortion rights if Trump is re-elected, with the ad airing in seven battleground states on cable networks and during the Kentucky Derby.
In a Time Magazine interview, Trump expressed his support for states deciding on whether to prosecute women who receive abortions, stating that it’s up to the states to make those decisions. The Biden campaign ad is timed to coincide with the two-year anniversary of the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion on the Dobbs case, underscoring the connection between restrictive abortion bans and Trump’s legacy of appointing judges who oppose Roe v. Wade. Biden’s campaign has previously aired six other ads related to abortion, reflecting their ongoing effort to engage voters on this critical issue.
Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez condemned Trump’s stance on abortion, accusing him of approving surveillance, prosecution, and punishment of women seeking reproductive care. Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to continue her campaign focusing on abortion access, with a planned event in Montgomery County near Philadelphia. Harris has previously criticized Trump as the “architect of this health care crisis” and warns that a second term for Trump would bring even greater challenges for reproductive rights.
While Trump has expressed support for a national abortion ban in the past, he has recently indicated that he would leave abortion access decisions to the states. The Guttmacher Institute reports that since Roe v. Wade was overturned, 21 states have enacted restrictive abortion bans. A CBS News poll of battleground states showed that a majority of voters are following news about these bans, but not all blame Trump for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In Wisconsin, for example, 40% blamed Trump for the decision, while 44% did not attribute responsibility to him.
During a recent rally in Michigan, Trump praised the overturning of Roe v. Wade and encouraged Republicans to fight for their beliefs while also focusing on getting elected. While abortion remains a divisive issue, voters in battleground states also prioritize other concerns such as the economy, democracy, and crime. The Biden campaign’s ad buy and focus on abortion rights seek to mobilize voters around the potential threats posed by restrictive state laws and the impact of a Trump presidency on reproductive rights.
