Abortion rights activist backs Edwards
Abortion rights activist backs Edwards
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has won the backing of Kate Michelman, an influential abortion rights activist who served as president of the NARAL-Pro Choice America for nearly 20 years.
Michelman will serve as a senior adviser to the Edwards campaign, helping with outreach to women voters.
In an interview, Michelman said she was inspired by Edwards' commitment to women's rights and to the goal of eradicating poverty in the United States. Michelman spent time on welfare as a single mother of three.
"He has never backed down or retreated from a woman's right to choose, and he understands women's role in society. And he knows that most Americans in poverty are women and children," Michelman said.
Even with Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton poised to become the first major female presidential candidate in history, Michelman said she was unwavering in her support for Edwards.
"I made my assessment based on factors other than gender. Gender's important, but it's not the only factor," she said.
Michelman called Clinton a "great friend," and professed admiration for other likely candidates, including Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Since leaving NARAL in 2004, Michelman has traveled the country promoting abortion rights and has informally advised several congressional candidates. Last year she chaired the Campaign for Healthy Families, which successfully sought to overturn South Dakota's ban on most abortions.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail_1
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has won the backing of Kate Michelman, an influential abortion rights activist who served as president of the NARAL-Pro Choice America for nearly 20 years.
Michelman will serve as a senior adviser to the Edwards campaign, helping with outreach to women voters.
In an interview, Michelman said she was inspired by Edwards' commitment to women's rights and to the goal of eradicating poverty in the United States. Michelman spent time on welfare as a single mother of three.
"He has never backed down or retreated from a woman's right to choose, and he understands women's role in society. And he knows that most Americans in poverty are women and children," Michelman said.
Even with Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton poised to become the first major female presidential candidate in history, Michelman said she was unwavering in her support for Edwards.
"I made my assessment based on factors other than gender. Gender's important, but it's not the only factor," she said.
Michelman called Clinton a "great friend," and professed admiration for other likely candidates, including Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Since leaving NARAL in 2004, Michelman has traveled the country promoting abortion rights and has informally advised several congressional candidates. Last year she chaired the Campaign for Healthy Families, which successfully sought to overturn South Dakota's ban on most abortions.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail_1
posted by presgore19 at 4:47 AM
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