CAMPAIGN ’98: Voters For Choice Endorses Davis
Lt. Gov. Gray Davis has secured yet another endorsement from a high-profile pro-choice organization in his campaign for governor, this time from Voters For Choice. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Voters For Choice is an important endorsement because it brings with it the political clout and fundraising capabilities of Gloria Steinem, its founder and president. The group "plans direct mail, voter identification and get-out-the-vote efforts and possibly television advertising to boost the Davis campaign." The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and its California chapter have also endorsed Davis, "pledg[ing] money and support." In a statement yesterday, Davis said such support underscores "my record as an advocate of women's issues."
In The Other Corner
Abortion rights leaders hope Steinem's support "will help Davis steal away crucial female Republican voters who are turned off by the more conservative position of GOP State Attorney General Dan Lungren. Lungren supports abortion only in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. Winning as many swing voters as possible is extremely important, say pro-choice observers who view the race as one of the most important in the nation. "We think this (race) is one of the top priorities in the country -- if not the top one," said Julie Burton, Voters for Choice executive director. She stressed the national implications of the California race: "Not only is (California) the largest state in the country, but the governor will be overseeing districting and the presidential election in 2000. It is critical for the issue of choice" (Marinucci, 7/9). Click here for past California Healthline coverage of this issue.