Anti-abortion group injects funds into Senate race

The Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion organization, is targeting Democratic U.S. Sen. candidate Bruce Lunsford, of Louisville, with a radio buy.

Reports filed yesterday by the organization with the Federal Election Commission indicate the group is putting $51,600 into the media buy.

Joy Yearout, political director for the group, said an ad is airing on Christian radio stations in Kentucky, and notes it focuses on Lunsford's "history of opposing Kentucky's fetal homicide bill."

In the minute-long spot, the voices of two women conversing at Lunch are played when "that Bruce Lunsford fellow" is mentioned by one.

"Apparently, Bruce Lunsford doesn't think a criminal that attacked a pregnant woman and killed her unborn baby should be charged with the baby's murder," says one of the actors in the ad.

"Lunsford doesn't think murdering an unborn child is a crime?" says the other, in response. "I knew he was pro-choice but that's extreme. He definitely doesn't share our values."

One of the actors then provides Lunsford's campaign office phone number to the other, requesting she call to register her feelings about the issue.

The Susan B. Anthony List supports the charge against Lunsford by referencing comments he made during a 2003 debate appearance, when he was seeking his party's nomination for Governor. A February, 2003 article on the debate in the Louisville Courier-Journal describes Lunsford as being "the only candidate to oppose the bill now pending in the legislature that would hold an offender responsible for the death of a fetus if the offender is linked to the death of a pregnant mother."

The buy from the group was foreshadowed last week, when a press release was dispatched hitting on similar points, amid the news that Lunsford was unveiling his "women's bill of rights."

"The Susan B. Anthony List will be educating pro-life voters in Kentucky about the Senate candidates' records on Life," said the organization's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, in a statement from last week.

Lunsford's "women's bill of rights" did not reference abortion nor or the so-called "fetal homicide" bill cited by the Susan B. Anthony List.

Yearout said her organization was targeting races across the country with similar ads, which she described as part of the group's "issue advocacy" campaign. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D- Col.), former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and state Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) are other senate candidates targeted by the group.

When asked if the group would allocate other resources in its efforts against Lunsford, Yearout said it was "too early to say."

Lunsford's campaign did not immediately return requests for comment.