FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2008                                                                

 Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey

Ratifies Endorsement of Barack Obama

(Trenton, NJ) The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey (PPAF-NJ) has ratified the national Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s unanimous recommendation to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood, and similar local Planned Parenthood action organizations across the country represent the interests of millions of women in this country who are looking for a leader in the White House that will support quality, affordable healthcare for women.  PPAF-NJ believes that leader is Senator Barack Obama.

“Senator Barack Obama has a long and consistent record for standing up for women’s health care,” said Michele Jaker, Executive Director of PPAF-NJ.  “Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey enthusiastically votes to ratify the recommendation to endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States. As President, he will be a leader to improve access to quality health care for women, continue to support and protect a woman’s right to choose, and invest in prevention programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion.”

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and state and local Planned Parenthood action funds have also been educating voters about John McCain’s anti-women’s health care record and zero percent voting record from Planned Parenthood. In 25 years in Washington, John McCain wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, opposes basic family planning programs, and voted against insurance coverage for birth control.

Recent polling by Hart Research shows that Planned Parenthood is a trusted messenger of information on health care issues, and that 65 percent of women in battleground states view Planned Parenthood positively; an approval rating unmatched by very few national organizations.

Put simply, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund will play an important role in this election. We are engaged in an aggressive effort to educate voters about both Senator Obama and Senator McCain’s records on women’s health care. As more and more women voters learn that McCain opposes Roe v. Wade, and has voted against women’s reproductive health care, they are less likely to support him.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s endorsement process calls for the national board to make a recommendation to its state and local 501 (c)(4) organizations across the country that represent the interests of its 103 affiliates and for those 501 (c)(4) organizations to ratify the endorsement.

Following ratification by state and local action funds, the national Action Fund will make official its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president.