The focus of the 2012 election has been on the marquee battle for president, but pro-life advocate needs to focus on these top Senate races.
In order to have success in overturning Obamacare, de-funding Planned Parenthood, passing pro-life laws and approving the kinds of judges who would be open to overturning Roe v. Wade, pro-lifers are best helped if pro-life Republicans re-take control of the Senate from pro-abortion Democrats who currently run it.
Here is a breakdown of some of the most competitive races where pro-life candidates need the support of pro-life voters:
ARIZONA: In Arizona, pro-life Republican Jeff Flake takes on pro-abortion Democrat Richard Carmona. The Arizona Right to Life Political Action Committee said it endorsed Flake based on his strong pro-life voting record, which the National Right to Life Committee ranks at 98 percent. Flake has been winning the race most of the Fall.
CONNECTICUT: Neither candidate in the Senate race in Connecticut is pro-life but pro-abortion Chris Murphy (D) faces Linda McMahon (R), who is more likely to go along with pro-life bills and votes. Murphy is leading the race.
FLORIDA: Connie Mack (R), who is pro-life, takes on Bill Nelson (D) who supports abortion. Nelson has been leading the race for weeks but a strong Romney showing in Florida could help Mack win a surprise victory.
INDIANA: Richard Mourdock’s (R) comments suggesting that a child conceived in rape was part of God’s plan have shaken up a race where he was thought to be in the lead. Now, pro-abortion Joe Donnelly (D) has a small lead heading into the final days. The state is going for Romney and Republican Mike Pence is winning the race for governor and that may help the pro-life Mourdock in a squeaker.
MASSACHUSETTS: This is another state with two pro-abortion candidates, though Scott Brown (R) has frequently voted pro-life. Elizabeth Warren (D), who is strongly pro-abortion, has a small lead and appears likely to win a race where Brown was thought previously to be able to hold his seat.
NEBRASKA: This is a seat Republicans will gain and they will replace Ben Nelson, a pro-life Democrat who drew the ire of pro-lifers for supporting Obamacare after his own attempts to stop abortion funding in it were defeated. Deb Fischer (R), who is pro-life, is expected to win this race against pro-abortion Bob Kerrey (D), the former governor.
MISSOURI: Missouri looked like a pro-life pickup until Todd Akin (R) made a controversial statement about abortion and rape. Now, pro-abortion Claire McCaskill (D) has a lead but there is still hope that the expected easy victory by Romney here will bring out enough support for Akin to win.
MONTANA: The Montana Senate seat looks like it may switch to a pro-lifer with Denny Rehberg (R), who is pro-life, holding a small lead over pro-abortion Sen. Jon Tester (D). Romney will win Montana by a decent margin that will hopefully give the congressman a chance to go to the Senate.
NEVADA: Sen. Dean Heller (R) looks as if he will defeat pro-abortion Shelley Berkley (D) in this race. Since his election to the US House of Representatives in 2006 and his appointment to the US Senate in May 2011, Heller has voted for key pro-life initiatives against abortion. Some of these include the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and the repeal of Obamacare.
NORTH DAKOTA: Rick Berg (R), who is pro-life, is winning this race against pro-abortion Heidi Heitkamp (D), who has been polling well but is trailing now. Berg has served in the U.S. House since 2010 when he defeated an incumbent with 55 percent of the vote. Berg served in the North Dakota state legislature from 1984 to 2001, has earned a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and is a co-sponsor of the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, and the Protect Life Act. Heitkamp was endorsed by EMILY’s List in her 2000 run for Governor.
OHIO: In one of the more competitive races in the country, pro-abortion Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) faces pro-life Josh Mandel (R). A Rasmussen poll shows the race as a tie and this battle could go down to the wire on Tuesday night. Mandel has a strong pro-life record, a record that has earned him the endorsement of the Ohio Right to Life PAC and the National Right to Life. Mandel co-sponsored numerous pieces of pro-life legislation on the state level. If elected to the US Senate, Mandel is committed to repealing the pro-abortion Obama healthcare law and protecting rights of conscience. He also opposes federal funding of abortion and would vote to establish a permanent policy against funding abortions and healthcare plans that fund abortions. Sherrod Brown, on the other hand, holds a no-limits abortion policy.
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PENNSYLVANIA: Sen. Bob Casey is nothing like his father and is not a pro-life Democrat, as he supports Planned Parenthood funding and okayed abortion funding in Obamacare. Casey faces Tom Smith (R) in a race that has become more competitive recently. Despite campaigning on a pro-life platform during his campaign for Senate in 2006, Senator Bob Casey, Jr. has achieved a mere 44% pro-life voting record according to the National Right to Life Committee. Smith drew a contrast with Senator Casey on abortion, calling himself “100% pro-life.”
VIRGINIA: One of the most competitive races has pro-abortion Tim Kaine (D) facing George Allen (R), who supports most every pro-life limit. Kaine put together a nice string of polling leads in Virginia from mid-September through early October, but that seems to have ended as Allen is coming back and maybe be tied.
WISCONSIN: Here, pro-life Tommy Thompson (R) faces pro-abortion Tammy Baldwin (D), who appears to have a slight lead. The race is a crucial one for pro-life advocates looking to recapture the Senate and Wisconsin Right to Life officials tell LifeNews they will be working to ensure Thompson wins.
