Rep. Paul Ryan’s record on abortion and contraception could help widen a gender gap that is already hurting Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in several key states.
Abortion-rights supporters — including the Obama campaign — have aggressively attacked Ryan’s (R-Wis.) stance on abortion and other women’s health issues since Romney announced his selection as running mate this past Saturday. And they say the choice can only hurt Romney’s standing with female voters. ...The Hill
If I were a supporter, I'd worry about "several key states." The election is too close for either candidate to be able to dismiss even one "key state."
Here's the real hitch:
Although abortion-rights advocates say Romney is far from moderate on women’s issues, they believe Ryan’s tenure in the House will make the ticket easier to define.
“Ryan is certainly easier to pin down than Romney,” EMILY’s List spokeswoman Jess McIntosh said.
One of the bills he cosponsored would define human life as beginning at the moment of fertilization — a far-reaching approach that could limit access to contraception and procedures like in vitro fertilization. It’s similar to the “personhood” approach, which voters in deeply conservative Mississippi rejected last November. ...The Hill
That's just not a winning issue, and not only in Mississippi where most feared "personhood" would win last year.
Democrats have tried to anchor the debate around two other issues: access to contraception and funding for Planned Parenthood.
So far, their strategy seems to be working. President Obama holds an advantage over Romney with female voters in several key swing states, according to recent polls. ...The Hill
And The Hill's list of states leaning towards Obama is growing.
