Democrats aim to make abortion a wedge issue two years post-Dobbs

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Two years after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Democrats are highlighting women’s reproductive rights ahead of the November election.

The Supreme Court ruling shifted the battleground, energizing abortion rights supporters and making it a key election issue. Since then, the anti-abortion movement has faced challenges, as public opinion polling shows Americans largely support abortion rights and oppose significant bans or restrictions.

Democrats are seizing the chance to highlight reproductive rights as a central issue in the upcoming election, just as they did in the 2022 midterms.

Vice President Kamala Harris, in a joint MSNBC interview with Hadley Duvall, emphasized “everything is at stake” regarding reproductive health rights in November’s election, with the Biden campaign aiming to make abortion a critical wedge issue.

This focus also comes as the Biden campaign contrasts the positions of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on the issue before their upcoming debate this week.

Trump hails decision to overturn Roe v. Wade 

In the lead-up to the election, many Republicans have attempted to keep quiet or take a more moderate stance on abortion.

However, during a speech over the weekend, Trump reiterated his stance that abortion regulations should be left to the states and defended the Dobbs decision.

“We did something that was amazing. The big problem was it was caught up in the federal government. But the people will decide and that’s the way it should be. The people are now deciding, and some states are a little bit more conservative, and some states are much more liberal,” he said.

Trump also highlighted the three Supreme Court justices he appointed, who were instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Meanwhile, Democrats aim to capitalize on this issue as they begin their campaign with events in Wisconsin and Virginia. Both Biden and Harris will be there.

The Biden-Harris campaign also launched new ads this week, featuring women who say they’ve been affected by abortion bans.

Where do Americans stand on abortion?

The White House’s message is likely to resonate with voters who support keeping abortion safe and legal in the U.S.

According to a Pew Research Center poll, 63% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases.

Additionally, a Gallup survey from May found that 85% of Americans think abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances, with 35% saying it should be legal under any circumstances and just 12% advocating for a complete ban.

As with many campaign issues, the focus is on swing states. Polling from the New York Times and Siena College indicates that protecting abortion rights is a top concern for voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with 11% of respondents in these states citing it as the most important issue. This percentage is comparable to those who prioritize immigration.

The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.