Planned Parenthood hits Romney with record-breaking ad buy

By Elise Viebeck - 09/10/12 04:12 PM ET

Planned Parenthood's political arm will hit Mitt Romney over abortion with new ads in Virginia and Ohio, the group announced Monday.

The ad buy, worth $3.2 million, comes as part of the largest-ever campaign effort for Planned Parenthood Votes. The group has already invested $1.4 million on ads in Iowa, Florida and Virginia.

A narrator says that Romney would "turn back the clock for women" in the new 30-second spot, which began airing Monday in Virginia.

The GOP presidential nominee has said the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade, which established the right to abortion, and that he would "get rid of" public funding for Planned Parenthood as president.

"Today, millions of women rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for basic healthcare, including lifesaving cancer screenings," the ad's narrator says. "And millions more know we should be making our personal medical decisions, not Mitt Romney."

In 2011, Planned Parenthood clinics in Virginia provided 4,117 Pap smears — 635 of which were potentially dangerous and required further diagnosis or treatment, the group said.

"It is these preventive services that would be cut under the Romney-Ryan administration," Planned Parenthood Votes said in a statement.

The group's clinics also provide abortions, making them a target for congressional Republicans who object to Planned Parenthood's public funding. Federal law states that no taxpayer dollars can pay for abortion procedures, but GOP lawmakers remain adamant about withdrawing public funds for the group.

Planned Parenthood's political arm has responded by becoming increasingly involved in the presidential race on Obama's behalf. The group's president, Cecile Richards, also spoke at the Democratic convention, drawing fire from anti-abortion activists.

Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg responded to Planned Parenthood's ad buy in a statement to The Hill.

“This is another misleading ad by the President’s allies in an attempt to cover up for four years of failure," she said. "Dishonest political attacks will not change the fact that President Obama’s policies have not helped women start businesses, increase take-home pay or ensure that their children can afford to go to college and get a job. Mitt Romney has a plan to grow the economy and provide more opportunities for women across the country."

—This post was updated at 5:33 p.m.