Planned Parenthood enters U.S. presidential race

By Michael Carney/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Taking aim at women attracted to George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism," Planned Parenthood said Monday it will spend $10 million to publicize the Republican presidential nominee's "anti-choice, anti-family planning record."

The abortion rights group said some $7 million will pay for television commercials criticizing the Texas governor. The balance will be devoted to urging like-minded people to vote.

"In our 84-year history, no election has been so crucial to women's rights and health," said Gloria Feldt, head of the nonpartisan Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "And the choice has never been clearer."

Feldt said the commercials will target the 85 percent of women who support abortion rights and back Bush. These women are self-identified independents or moderate Republicans.

"While (Democratic Party nominee) Al Gore said he supports a woman's right to choose, George W. Bush has very successfully dodged around these issues," she said.

Almost half were unaware of Bush's positions on abortion, sexual education and reproductive rights, Feldt said, citing internal research.

SEVEN SWING STATES

"Women voters -- particularly independents and moderate Republicans -- feel very strongly about these issues and will vote based on this issue," said Feldt. "It's like a metaphor for where the candidate stands on a lot of issues."

Planned Parenthood will rotate three commercials through seven swing states: Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

"I'm a Republican. I support a woman's right to choose," says a woman in one commercial. She is followed by another woman who says, "But Bush says he wants to take away a woman's right to choose and cut funding for family planning ... that's a risk I don't want to take."

The group also has prepared a voter guide that it said will be distributed to 2.2 million households.

Bush spokeswoman Mindy Tucker, asked to comment on the TV commercials, said Bush is committed to abstinence education, parental notification and a ban on so-called partial-birth abortions.

"Governor Bush understands that there are a lot of different views on this issue," Tucker said. "He feels that no matter where you stand on this controversial issue, most people can agree that we need to reduce the number of abortions in America." The race has been neck-and-neck for weeks, with both candidates counting on a good showing Tuesday during the first of three presidential debates.

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