Dannenfelser: "Dan Coats' commitment to repeal taxpayer funding of abortion in the health care law and in every aspect of federal spending will be urgently needed in the coming Congress."

Contact: Kerry Brown, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-470-1926, kbrown@sba-list.org

WASHINGTON, July 8 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today the Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, a national pro-life political action committee, announced its endorsement of former Congressman (IN-04) and Senator Dan Coats, candidate for U.S. Senate in Indiana against opponent and Congressman Brad Ellsworth (IN-08).  SBA List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser said of the endorsement:

"Once again, the Senate is in great need of the pro-life statesmanship Dan Coats has already proven time and again to possess.  His commitment to rescind taxpayer funding of abortion in health care and in every aspect of federal spending is urgently needed in the coming Congress."

Coats served as a U.S. Congressman from 1981 to 1989 then as a U.S. Senator from 1989 to 1999.  In May 2010, he won the five-way Indiana Republican primary with 39 percent of the vote.  Coats will face Ellsworth in the November general election to fill the open seat left by retiring Senator Evan Bayh. 

Ellsworth was elected Representative of Indiana's 8th district in 2006.  As a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, Ellsworth held a near-perfect pro-life voting record with the National Right to Life Committee until he voted in favor of a health care reform bill including the federal funding of abortion and, potentially, the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.

"Dan Coats represents voters' views and women's needs on the issue of abortion far better than does his opponent," said Dannenfelser, referring to March 2010 polling company™ data revealing that 80 percent of IN-08 constituents oppose the use of tax dollars for abortion.  In that same poll, 65 percent of Ellsworth's constituents said they would be less likely to re-elect him if he voted in favor of health care legislation including federal funded abortion. 

In contrast, said Dannenfelser, "Hoosiers can trust Dan Coats to represent their views on the Life issue and to vote according to his conscience regardless of any political calculus."

The Susan B. Anthony List plans to spend $6 million on voter education in the midterm elections, including $3 million on key Senate races.  The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of over 280,000 Americans, residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics.  Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process.  

For further information, please contact Kerry Brown at (703) 470-1926 or kbrown@sba-list.org.