Several Red State Democratic senators voted Thursday against defunding Planned Parenthood, an abortion referral agency.
As the Washington Examiner reports, Sens. Joe Donnell (D-Ind.), Bill Nelson (D-Fl.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) all opposed an amendment from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that would have withheld federal money from the organization. The Senate defeated the motion 48–45.
In a news release from West Virginia Republican Senate candidate Patrick Morrisey, spokesman Nathan Brand wrote that “Sen. Manchin’s support for the largest abortion provider in the nation continues to be one of the biggest issues” in the senate race and notes that “this is the fifth time Sen. Manchin has voted to fund abortion provider Planned Parenthood.”
Brand suggested Manchin’s support of Planned Parenthood could be a crucial issue in the midterm elections.
“Sen. Manchin has again sided with abortion provider Planned Parenthood and the radical pro-abortion Left instead of standing up for the right to life and the unborn,” said Brand. “West Virginians cherish life and don’t want their tax dollars going to the nation’s largest abortion provider, but it is clear that Joe Manchin has again sided with Chuck Schumer and the radical pro-abortion donors funding his campaign.”
The Morrisey campaign accused Manchin of playing both sides of the street on Planned Parenthood, posing for pictures with groups that oppose and support the organization. It also reminded readers that Manchin, despite posturing as a conservative Democrat, was an avid fan of failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.