New Romney ad takes aim at undecided women voters

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Showing the importance of undecided women voters in the presidential contest, Mitt Romney is airing a new ad aimed at reassuring them about his position on contraception and abortion.

In the ad, a woman says she is concerned that she has heard that Romney opposes all abortion and contraception, but she Googles his views and finds he does not oppose contraception “at all” and allows for abortion in the cases of rape, incest or if the life of the mother is at stake.

“I’m more concerned about the debt our children will be left with,” she concludes. “I voted for President Obama last time. We just can’t afford 4 more years.”

The ad comes as the Romney campaign appears to be making headway with undecided women voters in swing states, a critical segment of the electorate and one that appears to be swayable.

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But social issues are tough for Romney, because he was more liberal on issues such as abortion when he ran for senator and governor in Massachusetts. To survive the GOP primaries, he had to highlight his current more conservative views, saying that he would appoint Supreme Court justice who would “hopefully” overturn Roe vs. Wade, would be “delighted” as president to sign a federal ban on abortion, and would defund Planned Parenthood.

Democrats and liberals seized on the ad, saying Romney would not be able to whitewash over his record.

“This is an ad designed to deceive women,” said Planned Parenthood Action Fund Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens. “… Romney can run from his own agenda, but he can’t hide – women will hold him accountable at the polls on election day.”

The Romney campaign did not respond to a request for additional details. The ad will reportedly air in Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

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