Oh, here we go again. The Biden campaign, in its never-ending quest to keep Donald Trump in the spotlight, is now attacking the former president over abortion rights with a new TV ad. This ad coincides with the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade just days before the first presidential debate. Talk about timing, right?
The ad, first aired on CNN, features Kaitlyn Joshua from Louisiana. She shares her harrowing story of being turned away from two emergency rooms during a miscarriage at 11 weeks of pregnancy. She claims this ordeal was “a direct result of Donald Trump overturning Roe v. Wade,” pointing the finger squarely at Trump for her suffering. Joshua doesn’t hold back, calling Trump a convicted felon who avoids accountability for his crimes while letting women and doctors suffer the consequences.
Now, let’s pause here. Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records is hardly relevant to the discussion on abortion. Still, the Biden campaign sure knows how to weave a narrative. Joshua, who’s teamed up with second gentleman Doug Emhoff for a Michigan event marking the Roe reversal anniversary, insists that supporting Biden is the only way to protect women’s interests.
The 30-second ad is part of a $50 million campaign blitz in June, targeting crucial battleground states and national cable. The Biden camp sees reproductive rights as a rallying point, especially for young and female voters. They’re banking on this issue to boost their reelection chances.
President Biden didn’t miss a chance to weigh in, releasing a statement on the anniversary of Roe’s reversal. “Two years ago today, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court majority ripped away the fundamental freedom for women to access the health care they need and deserve,” Biden declared. He went on to blame Trump for the extreme and dangerous abortion bans enacted by his allies, putting women’s lives at risk and threatening doctors with jail time.
Biden didn’t hold back, saying, “Donald Trump is the sole person responsible for this nightmare. If given the chance, there is no question he will ban abortion nationwide, with or without the help of Congress.”
Let’s inject some reality here. Trump’s position, stated back in April, is that abortion legislation should be left to the states. He said, “My view is now that we have an abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both.”
Since the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2022, nearly two dozen states have restricted or banned abortion. Unsurprisingly, these states are experiencing higher rates of maternal and infant mortality and greater economic insecurity. This is the landscape Biden’s team is exploiting for political gain.
Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign is preparing for a significant Supreme Court decision on emergency abortion access, challenging Idaho’s enforcement of its abortion ban in medical emergencies. This case, heard in April, revealed a deeply divided court. Biden’s advisers are betting big that reproductive rights will be a decisive issue in November’s election and a key talking point in the upcoming debate against Trump.
Ever the strategist, Biden is holed up at Camp David, prepping with 90-minute mock debates for his showdown with Trump. According to campaign communications director Michael Tyler, Trump poses “the most extreme threat” to abortion rights, democracy, and the economy. The Biden campaign hosts over 50 events nationwide around the Dobbs decision anniversary, with high-profile appearances from Jill Biden and Kamala Harris.
So, here’s the takeaway: Biden’s camp is using the abortion issue to stir the pot and keep Trump on the defensive. Whether this strategy pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – they’re pulling out all the stops to paint Trump as the villain in this high-stakes political drama. As the debate looms, the stage is set for an epic clash over one of the most contentious issues in American politics.
