FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2015
Contact: Mallory Quigley, [email protected], 202-223-8073
Six-figure campaign led by SBA List includes digital advertising, polling, and grassroots mobilization
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) today launched a six-figure campaign to encourage Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 1553). The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham and backed by 45 co-sponsors, would limit abortions after 20 weeks, or 5 months of pregnancy, based on the unborn child’s ability to feel excruciating pain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised a vote on the bill.
The campaign, launched the last week of the Congressional summer recess, includes a digital ad buy, state-based polling, and grassroots mobilization via constituent calls to state-based offices of the Senators. State-based pro-life groups are also partnering with SBA List in the campaign.
“Whether pro-life or pro-choice, Americans should be able to agree that we should limit abortions after five months of pregnancy, when the unborn child can feel excruciating pain,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “The horrifying investigative videos of Planned Parenthood harvesting the organs of babies after late-term abortions only deepens the need for this legislation.
“America is one of just seven countries to allow these painful late-term abortions,” added Dannenfelser. “It’s time for Americans and our representatives in Congress to show compassion and get us out of this club.”
The web ads can be seen here: Alaska, Indiana, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.
From August 25-27, Meeting Street Research conducted a series of statewide surveys for SBA List in Alaska, Indiana, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. Highlights from the polling:
- A solid majority of voters in all four states (58 percent in Alaska, 66 percent in Indiana, 69 percent in North Dakota, and 59 percent in Pennsylvania) support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act awaiting a vote in the Senate.
- There is also broad bipartisan support for this legislation. With exception of Alaska, every state finds a majority of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats supporting the legislation. In Alaska, the abortion limit has the support of 78% of Republicans, 53% of Independents, and 40% of Democrats.
- In all four states, women support the legislation by a higher margin than men.
An executive summary of the polling can be found here.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in a bipartisan vote of 242-184. Additionally, 14 states have passed state-based versions of this legislation. National polling by Quinnipiac, National Journal, Huffington Post, NBC/Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post/ABC News all found that a plurality or majority of Americans support limiting abortion after five months and that women support the measure in higher proportions than men.
The Susan B. Anthony List and its Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, spent $15.25 million in the 2014 election cycle to defeat pro-abortion incumbents and elect pro-life candidates to federal and statewide office. The SBA List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
