.HayesBrown: This Mike Pence tweet should be a wake-up call for Democrats.
In political races around the country, Democrats have focused their advertising dollars on abortion. An Associated Press analysis of data from AdImpact, a nonpartisan research firm, estimated that by mid-September the party had sunkinto ads referring to the issue. “That’s more than twice as much money as the Democrats’ next top issue this year, ‘character,’ and almost 20 times more than Democrats spent on abortion-related ads in the 2018 midterms,” the AP reported.
” lists a promise to “protect the lives of unborn children” as among the caucus’ top legislative priorities. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., suggested that he’d support the kind of national ban Pence wants. But the money being spent ahead of Election Day isn’t matching that energy. The AP’s analysis found that the majority of Republican ads featuring abortion aired during the primary campaign, when candidates dueled over who was the most anti-abortion. Since the Dobbs ruling, the data shows, the number of general election ads about the issue has dwindled every month. Those Republicans who have tried to force the issue have met with failure: Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C.
This election is the first time in my life that I can remember Democrats actually being on the offensive on abortion and Republicans on the back foot. The GOP, aware that abortion isn’t a winning issue it needs to reclaim a majority, would rather scare swing voters and rile up its base with other wedge issues, like crime and immigration.