NARAL Pro-Choice America Celebrates Election of Pro-Choice President-Elect Barack Obama

Washington, D.C. – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the political leader of the pro-choice movement with more than one million member activists in all 50 states, called Sen. Barack Obama's victory in the presidential race an historic win for women's freedom and privacy.

"Tonight marks the beginning of a new era for America, with a leader in the White House who respects women's ability to make personal, private decisions," Keenan said. "Sen. Obama's strong support for a woman's right to choose galvanized voters across the country. The clear contrast between Obama's pro-choice values and John McCain's extreme anti-choice record made an enormous difference in this race. Sen. Obama's visionary pledge to change the tone of the debate over reproductive rights struck a chord with Americans looking for a leader to move the country away from the divisive attacks and rhetoric that have dominated our nation's political process for the last eight years. As the first major pro-choice organization to endorse Sen. Obama, we are proud of our members who volunteered for his campaign and whose support made it possible for us to persuade key swing voters to support his candidacy in all 50 states. We look forward to working with our new pro-choice president in protecting women's health and privacy."

NARAL Pro-Choice America plays a unique role in persuading Independent and Republican pro-choice women voters to cross party lines to support pro-choice candidates. In 2008, NARAL Pro-Choice America repeatedly contacted approximately 290,000 households in eight battleground states—Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia— exposing McCain's extreme anti-choice record and persuading these critical voters to support Sen. Obama. In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC endorsed 91 candidates for the U.S. House and Senate and made $350,000 in direct contributions. The organization's volunteers made more than 12,500 GOTV calls into swing states urging voters to support Sen. Obama and targeted pro-choice congressional candidates and mobilized more than 500,000 online activists to engage in campaigns and vote for pro-choice candidates.  Keenan also campaigned for pro-choice candidates, and served as an Obama surrogate in New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

For more information about NARAL Pro-Choice America's electoral activities and information on other NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC-endorsed candidates who also won their races, please visit www.ProChoiceAmerica.org/elections.