American Bridge, the Democratic super PAC, is targeting Mitt Romney online with one of the harshest “war on women”-themed spots of the cycle. The 30 second web ad is running as pre-roll on ABC News videos starting Tuesday, amping up the Democratic messaging about women in the final week of the campaign.
The American Bridge spot ties Romney to Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) “legitmate rape” comment (used to justify oppostion to aboriton rights in the case of rape), Rep. Joe Walsh’s (R-IL) contention that a woman’s life cannot be at risk due pregnancy (used to justify opposition to health exemptions for a total ban on abortion rights) and Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s line about rape, conception and God’s will. Viewers are directed to Bridge’s BindersFullOfWomen.com microsite, which includes more videos on GOP positions on rape and abortion.
Romney favors exceptions to a ban on abortion in the cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at risk, but his attempts to moderate himself against the most conservative voices in his party on the issue have been difficult thanks to the Akins and Mourdocks of the world as the Bridge ad illustrates.