US Vice-President Kamala Harris has announced that she will be embarking on a national tour next year to advocate for women's reproductive freedoms. In a statement, Harris expressed her concerns about the ongoing attack on women's rights, including the push for banning abortion in all 50 states and criminalizing doctors. She also highlighted the burden placed on women who have to travel out of state to receive necessary care. The tour will begin on January 22, the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, in Wisconsin. The tour aims to shed light on the harm caused by abortion bans and share stories of those impacted.

This announcement comes just a week after Biden-Harris campaign officials indicated that they would prioritize abortion as a central issue in President Joe Biden's re-election bid. They specifically mentioned their plans to elevate personal stories, such as that of Kate Cox, who had to travel out of Texas for an abortion due to a deadly disorder diagnosed in her fetus. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden-Harris campaign manager, emphasized the power of these personal stories in illustrating the challenges faced by women and healthcare providers. She also criticized the patchwork of state laws that impact women's lives and the potential consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade.

The campaign officials further expressed their intention to tie restrictive abortion laws to former President Donald Trump's legacy. Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden-Harris campaign, highlighted the extreme positions of all Republican candidates in the race and their desire to limit Americans' freedoms. In contrast, President Biden signed an executive order last year to address abortion access, and Vice-President Harris has been actively involved in addressing the issue since the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The Biden-Harris campaign's focus on abortion suggests their intent to nationalize an issue that has largely been left to state legislators. They aim to mobilize voters, particularly suburban women, older women, and some younger men, who are concerned about abortion access. Recent victories for abortion rights advocates in state-wide ballot questions and the voter backlash that limited Republican gains in the 2022 congressional midterm elections and propelled Democrats to victories in Virginia and Kentucky indicate the potential impact of this issue.

The upcoming tour by Vice-President Kamala Harris will be part of the Democrats' strategy to target the Republicans' political weak point on abortion access in the lead-up to the 2024 election. The tour, titled the "fight for reproductive freedoms," will include events across the country and feature women impacted by the Supreme Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, effectively ending nationwide abortion rights. Harris's tour will commence in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state, on January 22, coinciding with the 51st anniversary of the original Roe decision.

This initiative follows President Joe Biden's plan to make abortion rights a central component of his campaign as his approval ratings on other issues, such as the economy, reach record lows. The Biden-Harris campaign believes that abortion access will motivate various voter demographics, including suburban women, older women, and some younger men. The issue has proven influential in previous elections, with victories for abortion rights advocates in conservative states like Ohio, Kansas, and Kentucky, as well as playing a role in limiting Republican gains in the 2022 congressional midterm elections.

The Democrats' focus on reproductive rights is evident in their messaging, with the Democratic National Committee launching a six-figure advertising campaign featuring billboards displaying Biden and Harris alongside the text "NO to Republican Abortion Bans! YES to a Women's Right to Choose!" Several Republican candidates, including Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, have expressed support for banning abortion, while former President Donald Trump, although more lenient, has taken credit for appointing conservative justices to the Supreme Court, which led to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Vice-President Kamala Harris's national tour and the Democrats' emphasis on abortion access signify their determination to protect women's rights and make this issue a central focus in the upcoming elections. By sharing personal stories and highlighting the consequences of restrictive abortion laws, the campaign aims to mobilize voters and draw attention to the potential threats to reproductive freedoms across the country.