As Mitt Romney has closed the gap against President Obama in the polls -- and in some cases, inched ahead -- the enormous gender gap that benefited the incumbent has dwindled, too. It appears, then, that the president and his allies are eager to keep women's health and reproductive rights in the spotlight, hoping to remind women voters what's at stake from a progressive perspective.
The Obama campaign unveiled this new spot over the weekend, which will air in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia. If my count is correct, it's the sixth television spot Obama has unveiled on this issue in recent months.
For those who can't watch clips online, the voiceover tells viewers, "As you're making your decision, maybe you're wondering what to believe about Mitt Romney. Well, when it comes to protecting your access to birth control, and the basic women's health care services Planned Parenthood provides, one thing we must remember, is this: 'I'll cut off funding to Planned Parenthood.'
"He'll cut it off. Cut us off 'Planned Parenthood. We're going to get rid of that.' Women need to know the real Mitt Romney."
Also today, actors Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria, and Kerry Washington appear in a new spot from MoveOn.org Political Action, stressing the same concerns, including Romney's intentions to see Roe v. Wade overturned and the recent Republican effort to redefine rape. The spot is reportedly set to air in Virginia and Colorado.