NARAL Endorses Obama; Clinton Camp 'Surprised'

NARAL tapped Barack Obama today, an endorsement that a top Hillary Clinton aide called “surprising.” The abortion-rights group said Obama is the candidate “we believe will secure the Democratic nomination”—and said it hoped to start healing a rift between black voters and white female activists that the primary fight has opened, Talking Points Memo reports.

The group’s board had been evenly divided between the candidates, the AP adds, but ultimately voted unanimously for Obama. Rebutted Clinton campaign manager Howard Wolfson, “I think Sen. Clinton’s leadership on advocacy and choice issues is second to none.” The head of Emily’s List—a political action committee dedicated to electing pro-choice women—called the snub of Clinton “tremendously disrespectful,” reports Politico. (More NARAL stories.)