With the Arizona Republican presidential primary taking place next week, one of the largest pro-life organizations in the state announced today that it is backing GOP hopeful Rick Santorum for president.
The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee told LifeNews today that it is announcing its endorsement of Rick Santorum in the Republican presidential primary “based on his strong pro-life record and his leadership over the years.”
The pro-life group is happy that Santorum authored the law banning partial-birth abortions, as well as the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, providing appropriate care for infants who survive an abortion. it pointed out the former Pennsylvania senator was a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, and also sponsored legislation related to end of life issues and it said Santorum “continues to be an outspoken opponent of federal funding of abortion.”
The AZRTL PAC considered Santorum’s support of those priority issues in deciding to endorse him, according to Michelle Clements, president of Arizona Right to Life.
“There are few who are as articulate and passionate on life issues as Senator Santorum,” she said. “He not only voted the right way, he talks about the dignity and value of every human life whenever he has the opportunity, and he lives out those values in his own personal life. We are grateful for his leadership and proud to endorse him.”
Clements said AZRTL PAC acknowledges that all the Republican presidential candidates have declared they are pro-life, and that other candidates have strong pro-life voting records and said Arizona Right to Life commends them for their support and defense of life.
“The one person we know is unapologetically pro-choice, even supporting partial-birth abortion and federal funding of abortion, is President Barack Obama,” said Clements. “This is a critically important election, and we take comfort in knowing that the Republican nominee will take a strong position in contrast to President Obama who is the only pro-choice candidate.”
“We encourage Arizonans to support Rick Santorum in the Republican presidential primary election Tuesday, February 28,” she concluded.
Last week, the Susan B. Anthony List endorsed Santorum. Before that, CatholicVote.org, a leading national grassroots Catholic advocacy organization, said it “proudly” endorses Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator. Santorum has also picked up support from Gary Bauer, Abby Johnson, and numerous evangelical leaders.
The endorsement also follows on the heels of one from Georgi Right to Life for Santorum and Newt Gingrich. That earned the group pushback from the National Right to Life committee, its parent organization, which has taken the position that each of the four Republican candidates are pro-life enough to be significantly better than Obama and has not endorsed any candidate.
Mitt Romney has recently received his own pro-life endorsements, including from James Bopp, one of the top pro-life attorneys in the nation who has served as legal counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, Christian Coalition, Citizens United and the Republican Party.
