Obama: Outgoing NARAL Pro-Choice America chief a ‘friend and counselor’

President Obama praised abortion-rights activists and marked the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in a video shown Tuesday night at the NARAL Pro-Choice America annual dinner in Washington, D.C.

“Tonight, we celebrate the historic Roe v. Wade decision handed down 40 years ago,” Obama said, according to a transcript published by The Washington Post. “But we also gather to recommit ourselves to the decision’s guiding principle: that women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care.”

Obama thanked the powerful abortion-rights organization’s outgoing president, Nancy Keenan, calling her a “friend and counselor to me and my administration.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the work each of you is doing to make this world a fairer and more just place for all Americans. And I look forward to continuing that work with you in the years ahead,” Obama said.

Obama’s former deputy campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter, delivered the keynote address at the Washington Hilton hotel.

A poll last month found record support for abortion rights.

Seven in 10 adults said the Supreme Court should not overturn its landmark decision establishing abortion rights, according to a the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll.

That was the highest level of support for Roe v. Wade in the poll's 24 years of tracking the question.

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