US Midterms: Biden Vows Push To Restore Abortion Rights

Facts

• Three weeks ahead of the midterms, US Pres. Joe Biden on Tuesday pledged that he would push Congress to codify abortion rights in federal law if Democrats control the legislature next year.¹
• Speaking at a Democratic National Committee event in Washington, he promised that, if the Democrats expand their majority in the Senate and maintain control of the House in November's elections, the first bill he'll send to the next Congress will be legislation to reinstate the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade.²
• The president also claimed that Republicans in Congress are, 'doubling down on their extreme positions,' and that the GOP is seeking to instate a national ban that would criminalize abortion across the US.³
• This comes as Democrats struggle to hold on to their slim legislative majorities. According to a recent New York Times/Siena poll, initial backlash over the reversal of Roe v. Wade in June has given way to economic concerns among voters. There is also reported to be a significant swing in favor of Republicans among independent female voters.⁴
• The latest voting projections also look bleak for the Democrats, who currently hold majorities in both chambers of Congress; although the incumbent party is projected to narrowly hold the Senate, Republicans look set to regain control of the House of Representatives.⁵
• Even if Democrats retain their majority in the closely divided upper chamber, passing an abortion bill could still prove difficult, as the party would likely require the support of at least 60 of its 100 senators.⁶

Sources: ¹CNN, ²Associated Press, ³POLITICO, ⁴New York Times, ⁵BBC News and ⁶Reuters.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. Things don't look good for the Democrats. While an increasing number of US citizens are concerned about rising inflation and the energy crisis, Biden still seems to believe that he can score points with voters by pulling the abortion card. This desperate speech, made so close to the midterms, is the final proof that Biden and his entire party are completely out of touch with reality and ignorant of the real concerns of working Americans.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. It's utterly hypocritical for the Republicans to present themselves as the advocates of working families when they are the ones who primarily represent corporate interests. However, as right as Biden is to stand up for reproductive rights, the issue will probably not be decisive for the election. Democrats must not fail to credibly demonstrate that they are the party that stands for democracy and economic justice - their reelection is crucial to the security and safety of the poorest Americans.