Ground Game

Yesterday, I looked at Obama's efforts to win over pro-life evangelical voters without alienating his pro-choice constituencies. Today, I'd like to shift that focus to John McCain, who faces his own delicate balancing act on the abortion question. McCain faces a somewhat similar dilemma but with the constituency balance basically reversed: He must do enough to drive pro-life voters to the polls without alienating pro-choice independent and Republican women.

During a breakfast roundtable with reporters moderated by the Christian Science Monitor, McCain surrogate and possible vice presidential nominee, Carly Fiorina described:

"a real, live example which I've been hearing a lot about from women: There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice."

Earlier today I spoke with NARAL Pro-Choice America's Ted Miller who pointed out that McCain actually voted against a bill that would provide just such a choice that Fiorina described. NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan added the following in a statement:

"Unlike McCain, who has voted against family planning 22 times, Sen. Obama supports legislation that would ensure fairness in insurance coverage for birth control, which represents one of the best ways to prevent unintended pregnancy and thus reduce the need for abortion. That's a clear difference between these candidates."

Last month, Keenan's group also released a survey (PDF) of 12 battleground states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. The survey found that when Independent and GOP leaning women are informed on McCain pro-life record, his support amongst them dips significantly. The survey says choice becomes the "top issue for moving pro-choice Republican and Independent women to Obama, trumping other traditional Democratic issues and attacks on McCain." From those key demographics:

GOP Women1: Obama 18%, McCain 76%

GOP Women2: Obama 27%, McCain 67%

Liberal to Moderate GOP Women1: Obama 18%, McCain 76%

Liberal to Moderate GOP Women2: Obama 30%, McCain 63%

Independent Women1: Obama 43%, McCain 43%

Independent Women2: Obama 52%, McCain 38%