Today, Planned Parenthood Action Fund announces its endorsement of President Barack Obama for president and simultaneously launches its first major ad campaign of the 2012 election cycle.  The stakes for women have never been higher than they are in this election and the contrast between President Obama and Mitt Romney could not be starker. That’s why Planned Parenthood Action Fund is stepping up in 2012 to play a bigger role than it ever has before in the elections.

This marks only the third time that Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed a candidate for president.  This is the first in a series of planned ads for the cycle that will hold Mitt Romney accountable for his out-of-touch and harmful views on women’s health.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund research and data clearly show that not enough women know Mitt Romney's harmful positions on women's health.  And when they learn about them, they do not like them one bit.

“There is no greater champion for women’s health than President Obama and Planned Parenthood Action Fund couldn’t be prouder to endorse his re-election as president today,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  “The contrast with Mitt Romney couldn’t be starker. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is committed to ensuring that voters know how wrong Mitt Romney is for women – in his own words.”

Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s first ad – “Out of Touch”, will be running through June 19 in three key swing markets – West Palm Beach, Des Moines, and Northern Virginia, as well as Washington, DC – on broadcast and cable, and online. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is spending over $1.4 million dollars on this campaign.  It is the first in a series of planned communications that will educate voters about the stark contrast between President Obama as a champion of women’s health and Mitt Romney as an opponent of women’s health.

“The attack on women’s health over the past 18 months have been unprecedented, and as a result, a network of more than 6 million supporters – a network that has grown by 1.5 million people in the past year alone – is standing ready to fight for women’s health,” said Richards.  “Unlike President Obama, what Mitt Romney doesn’t seem to understand is that women’s health issues are economic issues for women and families.  The fact that Mitt Romney doesn’t understand that shows just how out of touch and wrong for women he really is.”

President Obama understands the health and economic challenges women face – and has fought to address them by expanding health care for women, including access to birth control without co-pays and preventive care including cancer screenings; fighting for equal pay for women; and standing up to protect a woman’s ability to make her own personal medical decisions.

In contrast, Mitt Romney:

• Pledges to “get rid” of Planned Parenthood,” denying women access to birth control and cancer screenings.
• Would end the nation’s family planning program, which provides preventive care to nearly 5 million women, and cut off access to birth control for women who need it the most.
• Supports personhood legislation, which has been rejected in MS, CO, and OK, and that could ban common forms of birth control and IVF.
• Wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and end safe/legal abortion.

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The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.  The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.