|
 Former Texas congressman O'Rourke, 46, made the announcement during
his first nationally televised event before a live audience, part of
a strategy to re-energize a campaign that has seen slumping poll
numbers since he announced his White House bid amid a blaze of
publicity in March.
O'Rourke's plan comes amid an intensifying national debate about
abortion rights, one that is set to become a major issue as a huge
field of Democrats seek to become the candidate to take on
Republican President Donald Trump in next year's election.
Last week, Alabama enacted one of the strictest abortion laws in the
United States. It would make abortion illegal in nearly all cases,
including those of rape and incest.
Several other Republican-controlled states have recently passed
so-called "heartbeat" laws, which outlaw abortion if a doctor is
able to detect a fetal heartbeat.
Those laws form part of the latest challenge by conservatives to the
landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which
established a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy.
O'Rourke said during a CNN town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, the state
where the Democratic nominating contest kicks off in February, that
as president he would appoint only judges, including those to the
U.S. Supreme Court, who view Roe as the "settled law of the land".
He said he would work with Congress to pass laws preventing states
from taking away abortion rights, and would work to pass other
federal laws, including a universal health care system providing
coverage for reproductive healthcare and access to contraception and
abortion.
O'Rourke said he would also use the powers of the executive branch
to safeguard a woman's right to choose, including appointing an
attorney general who would protect abortion rights under Roe.
[to top of second column] |
"For so long, women have been leading this fight, shouldering the
burden of making sure that their reproductive rights are protected.
It is time all of us join them in this fight," O'Rourke said.
In reality, O'Rourke's plan would struggle in Congress, especially
in the Republican-controlled Senate. But it will appeal to
Democratic activists and many primary voters as he battles in a
field of 23 candidates currently vying to be the nominee to take on
Trump in next November's election.
O'Rourke's CNN appearance was well received by the audience, who
frequently cheered his responses to questions. His aides will be
hoping that the appearance before a national audience will help
breathe new life into a candidacy that has been struggling to gain
traction.
In recent weeks, O'Rourke has been languishing low down a second
tier of Democratic candidates, with his poll numbers falling to
between three and five percent support among likely Democratic
primary voters.
He has largely focused on meeting voters in small events, a strategy
that so far has not been working. In the past week he has stepped up
national television appearances, with interviews on MSNBC, an
appearance on ABC's The View, and then Tuesday night's CNN town
hall.
O'Rourke rose to national prominence last year when he narrowly lost
his bid to defeat Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in Texas.
(Reporting by Tim Reid; editing by Darren Schuettler)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
