Yesterday Georgetown Law graduate and women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke hit the campaign trail with President Barack Obama. Fluke introduced Obama at a campaign event (video) in Denver, Colorado. She rose to national attention last winter after she spoke out publicly in favor of Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA)–specifically the birth control mandate–and was then called a “slut” by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. The ACA and women’s health and rights were featured prominently in both Fluke and Obama’s speeches yesterday.
“Fortunately, we have a President who has fought for our right to quality, affordable care. That’s the promise behind President Obama’s health reform: we should have access to basic health care no matter where we work or study or what gender we are. And Obamacare is already delivering access to care for millions of women,” Fluke said yesterday in an op-ed on the Huffington Post. During her introduction of Obama she said, “We have a choice between someone who has stood up for women’s health and defended our access to affordable healthcare and a candidate that has outright promised to turn back the clock on women’s health and women’s rights.”
Colorado is an important swing state in the 2012 election. As of the end of July, women make up approximately 53 percent of Colorado’s active voters; and in 2008, Obama won 56 percent of the women’s vote in Colorado and the nation. However, George W. Bush carried the state in 2004 and 2000. Obama is currently leading Romney 46.4 percent to 43 percent in the state, according to Pollster.
Media Resources: Huffington Post 8/7/12; Huffington Post 8/8/12; LA Times 8/8/12
