Democrats eat their own on abortion post-Roe
Public opinion polls have consistently shown that the economy is the number one issue for most voters in the country.
According to a Monmouth University poll released last week, sixty-three percent of voters say that either inflation, gas prices, the economy, or everyday bills/groceries are their family’s top concern (inflation and gas prices alone combined for 47%).
Comparatively speaking, only 5 percent of voters say abortion is their top issue.
Still, abortion has become one of the top issues for Democrats after the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
While it’s not unexpected that Democrats have come out with fiery rhetoric against Republicans, with Democratic candidates promising to protect abortion rights if they win their elections, the reversal of Roe has also resulted in a circular firing squad in some Democratic primaries.
In the state of Florida, abortion has taken front and center as Democratic Gubernatorial candidates Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist have fought over their records on the issue.
Nikki Fried, who is currently trailing Crist in both fundraising and polling, has attacked the former Governor of Florida for his pro-life beliefs when he was a Republican. She highlighted his appointment of a pro-life Justice to the State Supreme Court.
THIS is why @CharlieCrist saying he has no regrets about putting an “anti-choice extremist” on our Supreme Court is so awful and disqualifying.https://t.co/TV6xO2Oubi
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 6, 2022
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In late June, Fried released a video advertisement on Twitter that showed Crist calling himself pro-life and saying that “nothing has changed” when he was asked about his pro-life record as Governor.
Charlie Crist is pro-life & his opponent is pro-choice. How about that? pic.twitter.com/4BYGVenfDO
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) June 28, 2022
Fried continued her attacks against Crist this morning, saying that “Eery voter will know Charlie Crist is “pro-life,” not only because I’ll tell them, but because he goes around saying it. It’s disqualifying.”
Yes, every voter will know Charlie Crist is “pro-life,” not only because I’ll tell them, but because he goes around saying it. It’s disqualifying.https://t.co/O9v2Nxj2LW
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) July 11, 2022
The Politico article she was responding to hints at the fact that Fried’s campaign may purchase ad time attacking Crist’s record on abortion in the coming weeks.
Abortion has also been a significant issue in other state’s Democratic primaries.
In the Rhode Island Democratic Gubernatorial primary, Nellie Gorbea, the current Secretary of State who is running for Governor, and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes attacked Democratic Governor Daniel McKee for not including a provision in the state’s budget to protect abortion rights.
“Democratic governors are stepping up across the country to protect abortion rights but Rhode Islanders have gotten nothing but lip service from [McKee],” Foulkes tweeted four days after the ruling.