Abortion Advocates Hope to Hold Senate in 2012 Elections

Politics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 2, 2011   |   1:02PM   |   Washington, DC

Should pro-abortion President Barack Obama lose his bid for re-election next year, abortion advocates appear to be holding on to hope that they can keep the Senate in pro-abortion hands to defend against the pro-life agenda.

With bills yanking federal taxpayer funding for both abortions and the Planned Parenthood abortion business getting held up in the Senate, and with the chamber installing two pro-abortion Obama nominees for the Supreme Court, getting the Senate in pro-life hands is a top election agenda for pro-life organizations. But, today, Emily’s List, one of the largest political action committees concerning any political issue, started its defense of the Senate.

It’s president, Stephanie Schriock, emailed supporters today to seek donations to fill its campaign coffers to support some of the pro-abortion senators up for re-election.

“This year, we’ve seen some of the worst proposed legislation in my lifetime. The GOP’s war on women has been waged on all fronts,” she said. “They’ve even tried to gut Medicare and defund Planned Parenthood.”

“But right now, the U.S. Senate is our only line of defense against these attacks. Give immediately to help our EMILY’s List candidates who will fight back against these outrageous attacks by the GOP. Every single dollar of your support is sent directly to the candidate’s campaign,” Schriock said. “The only way the GOP can pass its anti-woman, anti-family legislation is to knock down the pro-choice Democratic firewall in the Senate in 2012. And with half the Democratic women in the Senate up for re-election, the Republicans’ path to a full majority on Capitol Hill runs right through EMILY’s List candidates like Debbie Stabenow, Maria Cantwell, Claire McCaskill, and Shelley Berkley.”

“Make sure these women have all the resources they need to win — and hold our Senate majority. Can you contribute today to make sure we keep our Senate firewall against the Republican anti-woman, anti-family agenda?” she asked.

Earlier this year, LifeNews political reporter Andrew Bair put together his list of some of the most competitive Senate races and those he believes pro-life advocates could pick up in next year’s elections.

In Virginia, an open race will take place now that pro-abortion Senator Jim Webb (D) has said he will not run for re-election. In Nebraska, formerly pro-life, then turned pro-abortion Senator Ben Nelson (D) upset the pro-life community by providing Senate Democrats the 60th vote they needed to advance the pro-abortion healthcare law and he will face a strong challenge from Republicans.

Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, one of the names Schriock mentioned, faces a tough reelection, particularly after her vote for Obamacare, which is incredibly unpopular in the state. And incumbent pro-abortion Democratic Senator Bill Nelson’s low approval ratings and the recent success of pro-life Republican candidates across the board in Florida, like Senator Marco Rubio, give pro-lifers hope that Nelson can be ousted in 2012.

Nevada is another state with an open Senate race and, in Montana, Senator Jon Tester rode the Democratic wave in 2006 but it appears he won’t have that luxury this time around.

Pro-abortion incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown faces a tough re-election in Ohio while Senator Joe Manchin, who claims to be pro-life but voted to fund Planned Parenthood, may face a tough race in West Virginia.