Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is launching a new series of ads ahead of Tuesday’s presidential debate, tying former President Donald Trump to 2022’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the slew of abortion bans that followed.
The three ads, which feature archival clips of Trump touting his role in overturning Roe and suggesting “some form of punishment” for women seeking abortions, are part of a $370 million TV and digital ad buy between Labor Day and Election Day.
Trump made the statement about punishment in a 2016 interview and subsequently walked it back after widespread condemnation from presidential rivals and even leading anti-abortion groups.
These are the first abortion-focused ads since Harris ascended to the top of the ticket. That was intentional, one official tells CNN, as early ads were focused on introducing and defining Harris. The campaign is now expanding to paid media that will draw contrast with Trump — including on the issue of reproductive rights, which they have long believed will be galvanizing to voters, particularly women.
Per the campaign, one ad, titled “Told Us,” will air on TV in battleground media markets during primetime fall programming, while ads “Big Family” and “Laurel” — which feature Alabamian Latorya Beasley and Wisconsinite Laurel Marcinkus offering testimonials on how abortion bans in their states prevented them from accessing in vitro fertilization treatment and seeking abortion care — will air as digital spots.
“Donald Trump is a fundamental threat to reproductive freedom — and you don’t have to take our word for it — Trump said it himself,” campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said in a statement Friday. “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are fighting to restore reproductive freedom in all 50 states because they trust women to make the right decisions for their families.”
