The Biden Campaign is making abortion rights a focal point in the 2024 race, launching its first abortion-focused ad of the year. The ad, titled “Forced,” features an emotional testimonial from Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas OB-GYN and mother who had to travel out of state to terminate her pregnancy due to a strict abortion ban. Dennard blames former President Donald Trump for overturning Roe v. Wade and taking away women’s choice. The campaign hopes that stories like Dennard’s will resonate with voters and highlight the extreme positions of Trump and other Republicans on reproductive rights.
The ad will air in seven battleground states and nationally during the season premiere of ABC’s “The Bachelor.” It will also air during the NFL conference championship games, which attract a younger and more diverse audience. The campaign aims to reach suburban women and young voters through channels like HGTV, TLC, Bravo, Hallmark, Food Network, and Oxygen. Additionally, a 30-second version of the ad will run on digital platforms.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will also be actively promoting reproductive rights. Harris will kick off a reproductive freedoms tour in Wisconsin, a battleground state, while Biden and Harris will hold their first campaign event of the year in Virginia, focusing on reproductive rights.
The Biden administration is also taking action to protect access to reproductive health care. On the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, new guidance will be issued to strengthen access to all forms of contraception at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. The Office of Personnel Management will adopt a similar policy for federal workers’ health care coverage. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will send a letter outlining obligations to cover contraception to insurance providers receiving federal funding.
Furthermore, steps will be taken to educate patients about their right to emergency medical care and ensure hospitals and providers meet obligations under federal law. The Biden administration is closely watching upcoming Supreme Court decisions that could restrict access to abortion and mifepristone, a widely used abortion drug.
The Biden campaign believes that personal testimonies resonate with voters, and they have seen success in the past with ads featuring emotional stories about abortion. Dr. Austin Dennard, the focus of the new ad, has shared her story in various settings, emphasizing the importance of access to reproductive health care.
Overall, the Biden campaign is using the issue of abortion rights to galvanize voters and highlight the extreme positions of Trump and other Republicans. By sharing personal stories and launching targeted ads, they hope to replicate the success Democrats saw in the 2022 midterms and other recent elections. The Biden administration is also taking action to protect access to reproductive health care, coinciding with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
