Mitch Perry
A new 30-second television ad from NARAL Pro-Choice America blasts Marco Rubio for what the abortion rights group calls his “extreme and out-of-touch stance on abortion.”
“While Senator Rubio’s legislative record may be thin, his priorities are crystal clear,” said Joel Foster, national political director of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “He’d deny abortion to all Americans, even those who are survivors of rape and incest. While Rubio may try to portray himself as some sort of new generation of Republican, his position on abortion is from the dark ages and is far more extreme than even many of his Republican colleagues. Rubio has made his priorities clear. But the facts are clear, seven in 10 Americans believe abortion should be legal and Marco Rubio’s priorities are not America’s priorities.”
The Florida senator has startled some political observers for his stance against any and all abortions, including for survivors of rape and incest. On ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopolous” on Sunday, Rubio reiterated that position.
“I believe that all human life is worthy of the protection of our laws, that’s what I deeply and personally believe, and I’m not going to change my position on something that is so deep in me in order to win an election,” he told the ABC host.
“So what do you say to that mom, when you look her in the eye,” Stephanopoulos asked him.
“It’s a terrible situation,” Rubio replied. “I mean, a crisis pregnancy especially as a result of something as horrifying as that, I’m not telling you it’s easy. I’m not here saying it’s an easy choice, it is a horrifying thing what you’ve just described. It’s heartbreaking. It is unimaginable quite frankly.”
At times during this campaign, Rubio has slightly tweaked his stance on the issue. In an interview last fall with the Associated Press, Rubio said he unequivocally backs abortion exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger. He said he also would back legislation with allowances for cases of rape and incest — even though he personally doesn’t support those exceptions.
An August Quinnipiac University poll showed that 78 percent of registered voters said abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest, and 85 percent said it should be legal to save the life of the mother. The same poll showed 65 percent of registered voters said they could support a presidential candidate that holds a different position than they do on abortion.
The ad is scheduled to run on national cable networks this week. Watch below:
