Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has gone where Bruce Braley couldn’t in the Iowa Senate race, taking on the so-called war on women for the Democrat as his Republican opponent Joni Ernst continues to outpace him in the polls.
“It’s not enough to be a woman,” Mrs. Clinton said during a campaign event for Mr. Braley before 400 Democrats at a union hall in Cedar Rapids, The Hill reported. “You have to be committed to expand rights and opportunities for all women.”
Mrs. Clinton spoke about Social Security and Medicare but received the loudest applause when she suggested reproductive rights, under a GOP-controlled Capitol Hill, would be in danger.
Mrs. Clinton challenged Ms. Ernst’s support of a “personhood amendment,” and said the Republican Party preference would be to deny health insurance coverage for birth control and make women “just buy it over the counter,” The Hill reported.
Mrs. Clinton also slammed Ms. Ernst for trying to repeal Obamacare — something that guaranteed women access to mammograms, she said.
“It was not so long ago that being a woman meant being labeled a preexisting condition,” Mrs. Clinton said, The Hill reported. “And women were being charged more by insurance companies solely because of our gender. You know where Bruce stands. He doesn’t duck the tough questions.”
Mr. Braley is currently trailing Ms. Ernst by a few points, according to recent polls.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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