President Biden's campaign on Thursday launched a seven-figure ad buy in Arizona, focusing on abortion on as the state grapples with the fallout from a state Supreme Court decision earlier this week that enabled an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions.
The Biden campaign has sought to link former President Donald Trump to near-total abortion bans since Trump appointed three conservative judges who were instrumental in the 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Trump has touted his role in the effort to "kill" Roe v. Wade, although he has sought to distance himself from the Arizona decision.
"Because of Donald Trump, millions of women lost the fundamental freedom to control their own bodies," Mr. Biden says direct to camera in the ad. "And now, women's lives are in danger because of that. The question is, if Donald Trump gets back in power, what freedom will you lose next? Your body and your decisions belong to you, not the government, not Donald Trump. I will fight like hell to get your freedom back."
Political Campaigns Heat Up in Arizona
The latest ad, titled "Power Back," is set to air throughout this month on selected television shows such as Abbott Elementary, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, The Voice, and SNL. This campaign aims to reach a younger female and Latino audience.
In addition to this, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is rolling out a billboard campaign in Tempe and Phoenix, in both English and Spanish, holding Trump responsible for the recent abortion ban in the state.
Arizona has been under the spotlight following the state Supreme Court's decision to uphold a 160-year-old ban on abortions, which only allows exceptions to save the mother's life, with no provisions for cases of rape and incest. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit Tucson on Friday to address reproductive rights.
Before the court's ruling, Trump had expressed his belief that abortion laws should be determined by individual states. However, he criticized the Arizona Supreme Court for what he deemed as an extreme decision.
Despite criticism from within the Republican party, efforts to overturn the ban have been blocked by Republicans in the state. Notably, GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake has spoken out against the ruling.
Arizona Attorney General Takes Stand Against Controversial Abortion Law
In a bold move, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, has announced that she will not prosecute anyone under the state's new abortion law. The law, which has been widely criticized for its draconian measures, allows for felony charges against anyone involved in performing an abortion procedure or assisting a woman in accessing one. What sets this law apart is that it includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
