Abortion-rights groups back Casey opponent

[Rose Siding]

With few places to turn in a high-profile Pennsylvania Senate race dominated by abortion foes, the National Organization for Women (NOW) political action committee and the Feminist Majority Fund endorsed lesser-known Democratic contender Alan Sandals yesterday.

Sandals faces an uphill nomination battle against Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., the son of the late governor, and Chuck Pennacchio for the right to take on Republican incumbent Rick Santorum in November. Sandals has been running to the socially centrist Casey’s left, and the NOW endorsement underscores the dissatisfaction of abortion-rights activists with Casey, who has consistently led Santorum by double digits in polls.

Longtime abortion-rights advocate Kate Michelman, a former head of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, now known as NARAL Pro-Choice America, had considered a challenge to Casey but decided against it.
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“Can feminists, progressives and even moderates join them behind a candidate who does not recognize the importance of allowing women access to a full range of reproductive healthcare options? The simple answer is no,” the statement reads.

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