Pro-Choicers Feel Backlash for Backing Obama

NARAL’s state affiliates are blasting the abortion-rights group’s decision to back Barack Obama, fearing the move could alienate donors loyal to Hillary Clinton. “It’s created a firestorm,” said the president of the group’s New York branch. “Everyone was mystified.” That includes Obama supporters, Politico reports. A Clinton ally said some of NARAL’s Obama backers thought the endorsement “ill-timed and ill-advised.”

Citing the history and intensity of Clinton’s pro-choice support, analysts called her record stronger than Obama’s, and critics flooded NARAL’s website with negative feedback. One source said feminist donors were outraged: “Without exception, the response was, ‘It’s a really stupid thing to do.’” But NARAL’s national president predicted the controversy would subside, insisting people would get over their “broken hearts.” (More NARAL stories.)