Parenthood Action Fund is launching a televised campaign against Senator John McCain on cable in some swing states today.
The ad uses McCain's evident discomfort with a question about whether it's "unfair" that some insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control to raise doubts about the candidate with women voters.
Reproductive rights are typically at the forefront of presidential politics, though Obama has chosen to seek women's votes in large part through talking about economic issues. But Planned Parenthood and other groups remain potent forces, and this ad hits McCain on a pretty populist issue: 98% of sexually active women, according to one study, have used at least one form of birth control.
McCain voted against an amendment that would have compelled insurance companies to match Viagra coverage with birth control coverage, arguing that it's the kind of mandate that makes health care more expensive.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund has hit McCain on his answer before, but the ad marks the first televised attack on McCain from a feminist group this cycle. The group's spokesman, Tait Sye, wouldn't say how much they'll spend on the ad, but said it would run starting today on Project Runway on Bravo, on Army Wives on Lifetime, and Oprah in some markets.
The ad is running in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/Planned_Parenthood_Action_Fund_Simple_Question.html
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