FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Contact: Sarah Scranton, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
517–482–1080 X1

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan ratifies endorsement of Barack Obama

(LANSING, MI)—Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan has ratified the national Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s unanimous recommendation to endorse Senator Barack Obama for president of the United States.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood, and similar local Planned Parenthood action organizations across the nation represent the interests of millions of women in this country who are looking for a leader in the White House who will support quality, affordable health care for women. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan believes that leader is Senator Barack Obama.

“Senator Barack Obama has a long and consistent record of standing up for women’s health care,” said Sarah Scranton, Executive Director. “Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan enthusiastically votes to ratify the recommendation to endorse Barack Obama for president of the United States. As president, he will be a leader to improve access to quality health care for women, continue to support and protect a woman’s right to choose, and invest in prevention programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion,” she continued.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund will play an important role in this election by engaging in an aggressive effort to educate voters about both Senator Obama and Senator McCain’s records on women’s health care. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan has also been educating voters about John McCain’s anti-women’s health care record and zero percent voting record from Planned Parenthood. John McCain wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, opposes basic family planning programs, and voted against insurance coverage for birth control. As more women voters learn that McCain opposes Roe v. Wade, and has voted against women’s reproductive health care, they are less likely to support him.

Recent polling by Hart Research shows that Planned Parenthood is a trusted messenger of information on health care issues, and that 65% of women in battleground states view Planned Parenthood positively; an approval rating matched by very few national organizations.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s endorsement process calls for the national board to make a recommendation to its state and local 501(c)(4) organizations across the country that represent the interests of its 103 affiliates and for those 501(c)(4) organizations to ratify the endorsement.

Following ratification by state and local action funds, the national Action Fund will make official its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president.

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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.